Disney News Round-Up: Ticket Prices Raised at Disney World, DestinationD23 Announced, Ad-Supported Disney +, Disney Cruise Line News, new merchandise arrives, and much more.
Show Runtimes Announced for Wondrous Journeys & World of Color – One at Disneyland
Two new nighttime shows are coming to the Disneyland Resort next year for the Disney100 celebration. The show runtimes have been announced for Wondrous Journeys and World of Color – One. Both shows will debut on January 27, 2023, as part of the 100 Years of Wonder celebration.
Walt’s original magic kingdom will become a magnificent canvas with “Wondrous Journeys,” a new nighttime spectacular that will ignite the wonder in all of us. It will feature nods to every Walt Disney Animation Studios film to date, taking us on a journey filled with artistry, music, storytelling and heart. It will continue to build upon the park’s state-of-the-art projection effects, turning Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, the façade of “it’s a small world” and the Rivers of America into an artist’s canvas that brings characters to life all around you. On select nights, “Wondrous Journeys” will go even bigger with the addition of sparkling fireworks in the sky above Disneyland. This spectacular will also feature an incredible new song, “It’s Wondrous.”
The nighttime spectacular will be 13 minutes long and Baymax is rumored to be the character that flies over Sleeping Beauty Castle.
“World of Color – One” at Disney California Adventure park will celebrate the storytelling legacy started by Walt Disney a century ago. It will tell a new story of how a single action, like a drop of water, creates a ripple that can grow into a wave of change. It brings some of the most courageous, loving and inspiring characters to life in new ways. The show will also feature a new original song, “Start a Wave.”
This nighttime show will be approximately 23-24 minutes long. That’s a few minutes shorter than the regular version of “World of Color” which is 25-26 minutes.
Are you looking forward to experiencing these new nighttime spectaculars at the Disneyland Resort?
If you’d like to visit Disneyland during the 100 Years of Wonder celebration, contact me today! I am the preferred travel partner of Chip & Co and my services are complimentary. I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation!
Teachers Enter for a Chance to Attend Disney Imagination Campus 100 Teachers Celebration
Teachers can enter for a chance to attend Disney Imagination Campus as part of the Disney100 celebration! Disney will recognize 100 exceptional teachers who reflect the creativity and imagination of Walt Disney to attend a one-of-a-kind teacher event.
Disney encourages elementary, middle and high school teachers across the country to enter the contest by submitting an inspiring essay for a chance to win a trip to Disneyland Resort in California to take place during Teachers Appreciation Week in May 2023!
The 100 winners will be treated to a four-day, three-night stay at the Disneyland Resort to experience the Disney100 celebration as well as an inside look into Disney Imagination Campus workshops and offerings.
This exciting weekend is full of once-in-a-lifetime moments that will inspire teachers’ creativity while celebrating their amazing accomplishments. Winners will be honored with an inspiring keynote speech and will get to experience the reimagined Disney Imagination Campus workshops reflecting curriculum in Science & Technology, Arts & Humanities, Leadership & Innovation and Performing Arts. And, of course, they will experience all the magic of the Disney100 celebration at the Disneyland Resort through surprise special moments and amazing new experiences!
In addition, Disney is also hosting a sweepstakes where 100 teachers will win a $100 Disney Gift card.
Now through February 11, 2023, teachers can enter for a chance to win! Follow these three simple steps to enter:
Essay question: Describe an example where you brought wonder, creativity and imagination to life in your curriculum that inspired students in new ways.
Are you a teacher or do you know one that would like to enter this sweepstakes?
Disney Shares New Details on the Animal Kingdom Expansion
At the D23 Expo this year, Disney announced a possible Animal Kingdom Expansion. Dinoland U.S.A. will be getting a significant retheming. Some possibilities were teased but nothing specific was shared. While Walt Disney Imagineering creates and prepares whatever is coming to that area, animal caretakers prepare the animals at the park for the expansion.
CinemaBlend recently spoke with Disney’s Director of Animal and Science Operations, Dr. Scott Terrell. A theme park that houses both loud rides, as well as animals, can be complex to run. While Terrell wouldn’t share any specifics regarding the changes coming to Dinoland U.S.A., he explained that his team is involved in all new plans for the park.
“I will very much avoid that topic, but anything that happens in this park, and [The Dinoland Plans] would be no exception, my animal and science team is involved from day one, with the Imagineers, with the entertainment team… We’re just automatically at the table. It’s not like I have to even ask, my partners reach out to me and say ‘Hey, we’re starting something new, can somebody from your team be there?’”
Disney has a strong “animals first” mentality. Any time a significant change is planned, someone from the Animal and Science team is present. That helps prevent any major changes needing to be made to new attractions or entertainment after they are installed. The team already knows what will or won’t be a problem for the animals.
When Pandora – The World of Avatar was under construction, some animals were temporarily relocated. Not because of the attractions, but because of the sounds and vibrations caused by the construction.
Terrell explained, “I actually have scientists on my team that study sound levels and light levels and even, when we were building Pandora The World of Avatar, we studied seismic activity during the construction and actually moved animals away from the construction for certain periods of time to make sure they were able to thrive through that period.”
The only thing we know for sure about the Dinoland U.S.A. retheming is that the animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be well-cared for both during construction and after. One attraction in the area is already gone but there is no timetable for when other work might begin.
Walt Disney Imagineering shared multiple concepts at D23 Expo including a Zootopia-themed land or possibly one geared toward Moana.
What do you hope will take the place of Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom?
If you’d like to visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation!
DuckTales World Showcase Adventure Game Now on Play Disney Parks App – Coming Soon to Epcot
Disney previously announced a new scavenger hunt game coming to Epcot’s World Showcase. Now, the DuckTales World Showcase Adventure Game has arrived on the Play Disney Parks app! The game is replacing the “Phineas and Ferb” Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure and will be available soon.
The game appeared on the Play Disney app with the most recent update. The main image shows Scrooge McDuck, Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Webby running across a globe between World Showcase pavilions.
The app describes the game as:
“Help Huey, Dewey, Louie, Webby, Scrooge McDuck and friends defeat dastardly villains and recover the lost 7 Plunders of the World on an amazing adventure that spans the globe!”
The map shows a DuckTales symbol marked near the Rose and Crown in Epcot.
This will be the next iteration of a popular interactive scavenger hunt around World Showcase guests have enjoyed for years as they experience the magic of possibility at Epcot. Previously, guests were given devices to play the scavenger hunt games. Now, with Smartphones and the Play Disney app, guests can play on their own devices.
Disney previously announced that the game would debut in 2022 so stay tuned for more information to be released!
If you’d like to visit Epcot to play DuckTales World Showcase Adventure, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation!
Annual Passholders can Save Up to 25% on Rooms at Select Disney World Resort Hotels in Early 2023
Stay in the magic with this special offer—and make the most of your Annual Pass before the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration comes to an end on March 31, 2023. The savings continue through April!
Annual Passholders can save up to 25% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels, valid for stays:
Most Sunday through Thursday nights January 2, 2023, to February 28, 2023
When you take advantage of this offer, you’ll be surrounded by The World’s Most Magical Celebration, a once-in-a-lifetime event brimming with EARidescent excitement—taking place now through March 31, 2023. Plus, as a Guest of a Disney Resort hotel, you can enjoy early entry to the theme parks 30 minutes before opening to experience select attractions (with valid park admission and a park reservation)—giving you even more to celebrate!
The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited—savings based on the non-discounted price a non-Passholder pays for the same room. Length of stay requirements may apply.
If you’d like to take advantage of this offer, contact our preferred travel partner, Sara Solberg. She is a travel agent with Destinations to Travel and her services are complimentary!
Construction is currently ongoing for the Downtown Disney Expansion at the Disneyland Resort. The west side of the Downtown Disney District is being completely reimagined. Recently, Disneyland filed five construction permits for new retail suites, bathrooms, and more in the area.
All 5 permits were filed on December 5, 2022. One permit is for “tenant improvement”, one is listed as miscellaneous work, and three are for “new commercial construction”.
The tenant improvement is for Black Tap Craft Burgers and Shakes. The outdoor dining area of the restaurant will be extended and enclosed.
The miscellaneous work will be adding these elements to the west side of Downtown Disney:
1,000 square foot shade structure
1,250 square foot performance platform
258 feet x 7 feet min. tall fence
2,167 feet x 7 feet min. tall breeze block wall
21 light poles
5 event lawn poles
The other three permits are for the construction of an 8,300 square-foot retail building with five suites, 760 square-foot breakroom building, and 1,203 square-foot restroom building.
We can’t wait to see what the final product looks like!
If you’d like to visit the Disneyland Resort, contact me today! I am Chip & Co’s preferred travel partner and my services are complimentary. I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation!
Toy Story Holiday Ear Headband For A Fun Christmas Style!
Pixar pals are ready to join on the Christmas celebration with this Toy Story holiday ear headband featuring Hamm and Bo Peep’s sheeps! We found it at Hollywood Studios for $34.99, you can also order yours online at shopDisney.
The ear headband features ornament shaped ears featuring Hamm and Bo Peep’s sheep with a green and purple stripped ribbon around the headband and bow with a Christmas present in the middle! They are super fun, festive and unique, perfect for this holiday season.
You can take a closer look at this Toy Story Holiday Ear Headband in our Instagram post:
Bernard Finally Returns to Disney’s The Santa Clauses
Fans of the Santa Clause films were extremely excited to hear that David Krumholtz would be reprising his role as Bernard the Elf in ‘The Santa Clauses‘ series on Disney+. We saw Bernard featured in the first two Santa Clausemovies, but due to scheduling conflicts with his role in CBS series Numb3rs was unable to appear in the third Santa Clause movie as Elf #1.
According to Tim Allen and members of the production team, Bernard’s absence (and aging) will be addressed in The Santa Clauses series and he will return to teach Scott an important lesson about the true meaning and role of Santa Claus.
Series creator Jack Burditt recently spoke with TVLine, sharing: “He [Bernard] is in an episode. He plays a pivotal part in teaching Scott some things that maybe he didn’t know, either about the mantle of Santa Claus or himself.” He continued, “We’re playing with this idea that Scott doesn’t… know a lot about his role as Santa Claus. He just knows how he became Santa Claus, and there is a lot of information withheld from him. Bernard unlocks a lot of that information when he comes back.”
Are you excited to see Bernard return this week’s episode of The Santa Clauses? Are you enjoying the series so far? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
D23: The Official Disney Fan Club is celebrating Disney fans across the country as Disney100 kicks off. Members of D23 will be able to enjoy exclusive experiences as Disney honors its remarkable past and looks to its bright future.
DESTINATION D23: D23 returns to The Most Magical Place on Earth for the biggest Disney fan event of 2023 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, September 8–10, to celebrate 100 years of The Walt Disney Company. Fans will be among the firstto hear exciting announcements and see sneak peeks from the many worlds of Disney—and relive favorite memories with behind-the-scenes stories, special guests, and so much more at this epic event.
DISNEY100: In addition to a spectacular Destination D23 event, members will be among the first to see Disney100: The Exhibition when it makes its global premiere at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this February. Plus, D23 will invite members to The Walt Disney Studios Lot for an exclusive event in honor of 100 years of beloved Disney stories and characters.
THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS OFFICIAL TOUR – PRESENTED BY D23: D23 welcomes guests to The Walt Disney Studios Lot, giving members the opportunity to visit the world-famous studio in Burbank, California. These tours offer fans a unique perspective on historic moments from Disney films, television series, and theme parks—along with the chance to look inside the Walt Disney Archives and draw inspiration from Walt Disney’s office suite.
FAN-FAVORITE MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES: D23 will celebrate several milestone anniversaries with in-person events in 2023 for fan-favorite films, including Finding Nemo (20th), Mulan (25th), and Who Framed Roger Rabbit (35th). D23 is excited to celebrate these iconic films with extra-special experiences and even more magic for D23 Members. And Halloween will return in phantom fashion, celebrating the anniversaries of monstrously major movies including Hocus Pocus (30th), Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (30th), and Halloweentown (25th).
WALT’S MARCELINE: Walt Disney frequently cited this charming Missouri town where he spent his early childhood as one of his greatest influences. Its lovely main thoroughfare was an inspiration for Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A. D23 Members will have a chance to return in June 2023 for a very special hometown event.
D23 NIGHTS WITH DISNEY THEATRICAL: D23 and the North American tours of Disney’s The Lion King and Disney’s Frozen are excited to offer D23 Members exclusive theatrical experiences, including special ticket packages and post-show Q&As with cast members. D23 will kick off these dazzling theatrical events in Los Angeles with The Lion King and in Costa Mesa, California, with Frozen, and offer an exclusive experience with the cast during the highly anticipated opening of Disney’s Hercules at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey.
SIGNATURE EVENTS: Fans can look forward to D23 Gold Member previews of Walt Disney Archives traveling exhibitions across the country. D23 Gold Members will enjoy advance and opening night screenings of new Disney films at locations across the country. Walt Disney Imagineering’s exclusive merchandise store, Mickey’s of Glendale, will open its doors to members with both online and in-person opportunities. Look out for the return of the holiday favorite Light Up the Season in December 2023 as part of a very merry D23 Holiday Celebration!
Dates, ticketing information, and more D23 events will be announced throughout the year. Full details on D23’s lineup of 2023 special events can be found on the fan club’s website at D23.com/Events. Additional dates will be posted soon. All events and dates are subject to change.
Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Windbreaker Spotted At Epcot!
Keep the world’s most magical celebration going whenever you wear this Walt Disney World 50th anniversary windbreaker we spotted at the Creation Shop in Epcot for $69.99. You can also order yours online at shopDisney and get free shipping on orders of $75 or more with code SHIPMAGIC.
This lightweight jacket features an EARidescent Cinderella Castle 50th anniversary logo on the front, Walt Disney World 50 logo across the arm and a colorful Walt Disney World logo with famous attractions and icons from around the resort on the back. Super cute and perfect for those rainy days this season.
Take a closer look at this windbreaker in our Instagram post:
It’s hard to imagine Disney’s “Frozen” without Olaf the snowman!
Jennfier Lee, the chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation and the co-director of “Frozen,” confessed that the beloved character Olaf — was the first thing she wanted to slash from the 2013 project when she came on board.
Fortunately, a staff animator had worked out a three-page script treatment with Josh Gad in mind after he impressed filmmakers with a late night TV appearance. Jennifer Lee found him irresistible and agreed to keep Olaf in the script.
Jennifer Lee admitted she wanted Olaf removed from the initial production while accepting the Distinguished Storyteller Award from the Los Angeles Press Club. The award was presented to her by Josh Gad at the 15th annual Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards.
She explained that she jumped into the Frozen film project after it was already in development. She said after watching an early cut of the film, “My first note was, ‘kill the snowman.’”
I think it’s safe to say many are happy she later elected to keep Olaf in the movie franchise!
