WDW Planning

News

Disney Springs Extends Weekend Hours Starting October 9th, 2020

While I was in Walt Disney World last month the place that I took the most comfort was at Disney Springs. Despite the masks, temperature checks, and social distance guidelines being in place the sprawling shopping, dining, and entertainment complex gave me the greatest feeling of "normalcy." There I found that music played, crowds bustled, and restaurants welcomed guests to (current) capacity.

Magic Kingdom Holiday Merriment Reimagined In 2020

A reimagined holiday celebration will take place at Walt Disney World this year with running between November 27th and December 30th, 2020. Seasonal shows, decor, activities, treats, and merchandise will be sure to delight the senses of guests during this festive time in the Magic Kingdom and beyond.

Highlights From The EPCOT International Festival Of The Holidays Arrive In 2020

A reimagined holiday celebration will take place at Walt Disney World with select highlights from the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays running between November 27th and December 30th, 2020. Seasonal shows, activities, treats, and merchandise will be sure to delight the senses.

Some November Walt Disney World Park Hours Updates

If there is one thing we can count on at Disney right now, it's that everything is subject to change. Back in September operating hours at all four Disney World parks were reduced. It's not surprising with kids going back to school ini some form or another, September is typically a slower month. That being said, when the November calendar was revealed, it first appeared that these shortened hours would continue.

Disney Springs Closes Early Due To Curfew And A Message From Disney Leaders

Civil unrest occurring across the nation has prompted action from Disney as Orlando and Orange County institute a curfew following nights of rioting over the death of George Floyd. Disney Springs will be closing early until further notice to allow guests and cast members the ability to make it home in time. Disney Company leadership CEO Bob Chapek, Chairman of Disney Bob Iger, and Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer of The Walt Disney Company Latondra Newton also released a joint statement to Cast Members regarding this time of civil unrest.

BREAKING NEWS Walt Disney World Extends Closures

This evening, after the stock market closed, the @DisneyParksNews twitter account released a statement that the Walt Disney World and Disneyland closures would be extended until further notice and Disney cast members (not including operating partners) would be paid through April 18, 2020.

Details Revealed For Reflections - A Disney Lakeside Lodge

Amongst the plethora of news that came out of Disney's D23 Expo last weekend Bob Chapek, Chairman of Parks, Experiences and Products for the Walt Disney Company gave guests an all too brief look at the next Deluxe Resort and Disney Vacation Club property to be built at Walt Disney World - Reflections - A Disney Lakeside Lodge.

An Exciting New Stories For The Disney Cruise Line

Bob Chapek took the stage at D23 Expo to share his thoughts about the exciting projects coming to the Disney Cruise Line. He told the massive audience gathered before the D23 stage and shared his belief that every Disney moment a guest has should bring their favorite stories to life in thrilling ways. The Disney Cruise Line is reaching for that vision with new ships, and a brand new port destination that is pure magic.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening Date

Details are trickling out about the highly anticipated Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios as part of the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge expansion. Read on to discover why this new attraction is seriously ambitious, and worth every moment of anticipation as it readies to open on December 5th, 2019.

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway Opening in 2020

At Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney Imagineers are getting ready to open Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway in 2020! You'll be invited to the Chinese Theatre where Mickey and Minnie will be hosting the premier of their newest film "Perfect Picnic." The theater serves as the magic portal through which guests will step from the human world directly into the cartoon world for one Goofy adventure aboard Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway.

When it comes to Disney World, trip planning is huge undertaking. In fact, many a first visit to Disney World is marred by a lack of planning. While it might be tempting to think that it's "just a theme park," and that you can show up and have a blast by winging it, the size and complexity of the resort is daunting even for experts. These articles will help you make the most of your Disney trip, and might even introduce you to some activities and attractions you haven't heard about!

Articles

The Little Mermaid Wing Opens Completing Disney's Art of Animation Resort

The final wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort is complete and Guests are now invited to slumber in Ariel's colorful retreat at "The Little Mermaid" wing. This final phase of the staggered opening that included "Finding Nemo", "Cars" and "The Lion King" which opened previously and have been hosting guests while construction continued. The Little Mermaid saw it's first Guests arrive on Saturday Sept. 15 at Walt Disney World Resort.

runDisney News & Updates

It has been quite an exciting few weeks in the world of runDisney. Race season officially began over Labor Day weekend with the Disneyland Half Marathon and Jimmy Gabrow set a new course record by winning the race in 1:05! Cars Land was the main focus of the weekend beginning with the Cars Land 5K Rally that finished with racers running down Route 66. Half marathoners also had the chance to run through Cars Land on their course, many through a sea of neon in the morning darkness.

Disney's Hollywood Studios Streets of America

When the Disney Hollywood Studios first opened in 1989 (as Disney MGM), this part of the park was closed off and only accessible via the Backlot Tour. The buildings that make up The Streets of America look like they could be in any city across the country with people bustling to and fro, as they go about their daily business. If you listen you will even hear the sounds of a busy city life, and you think you've may have been transported. With the use of forced perspective, these city streets seem to go on for miles.

The Great Debate: Typhoon Lagoon vs. Blizzard Beach

Disney World has two different water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. A lot of visitors don't want to budget two days for water parks so they ofter ask which is better. Unfortunately this isn't an easy question but have tried to break it down and hopefully it helps you decide which is better for you! Or better yet try them both!

The World Beats of Mo' Rockin Permeate Epcot's Morocco Pavilion

UPDATE 8/29/2014: As of September 27th, 2014 Mo'Rockin' will no longer be performing at Epcot. You can find more information HERE.

Jellyrolls Dueling Piano Bar at Disney's Boardwalk Resort

We've talked about it before, here and here and even here... but what is it about Jellyrolls that keeps us coming back? This classic dueling piano bar with a $12 cover charge is one of the few places in Walt Disney World that's reserved for adults ages 21 and over.

Magic Kingdom's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Continuing along on our Mountain Tour of WDW, we head towards the far end of the Magic Kingdom's Frontierland. In the arid dessert the spires of rockwork fashioned after the rising buttes of Utah and Arizona's Monument Valley rise high into the air, but it's below in the mine shafts under the landscape that guests can climb aboard and encounter the thrill of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

2012 Christmas Trees from Disney's Enchanted Florist

Are you heading down to the Walt Disney World Resort for the holidays and looking to add a little extra magic to your trip? Why not deck the room with Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Tree! This fabulous tree and other holiday delights from baskets, to mouse ears, to holiday stockings are available from our friends at the Walt Disney World Florist. If you're dreaming of a Disney Christmas 2012 has more ways than ever to celebrate.

2012 Night of Joy at Walt Disney World

It's just about two weeks until Disney's 2012 Night of Joy and there's an All-Star line up covering two nights of sensational, spiritual music. Night of Joy is an annual after-hours event at the Magic Kingdom that requires a special ticket. The event takes place on two nights in September 7-8, 2012 from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. each evening.

Lion King Wing Opens at Disney's Art of Animation Resort

On Friday August 10th The Pride Lands of Africa opened in the third phase of Disney's Art of Animation Resort at Walt Disney World Resort. The whimsically designed property, is situated just across the Generation Gap Bridge from Disney's popular Pop Century Resort. The opening of the Lion King wing celebrates Simba's journey, with landscapes and theming that reflect playful and poignant scenes from the Academy Award-winning Walt Disney Pictures animated film "The Lion King."