New trees have been installed as construction on Epcot’s CommuniCore Plaza continues
Construction on EPCOT‘s CommuniCore Plaza continues full steam ahead, with the ‘Fall 2023’ opening date quickly approaching. While much of the work is occurring behind construction walls, new trees have been installed providing identifiable evidence of continued work on the area.
The newly installed trees are clearly evident above the construction walls, along with the recently installed verticle light standards.
When completed CommuniCore Plaza will be located adjacent to CommuniCore Hall and Dreamers Point. Dreamers Point will house the Walt Disney Dreamers Statue, CommuniCore Hall will be a hub for EPCOT festivals (as well as a more permanent home for character Meet and Greets), and CommuniCore Plaza will connect the entire area with beautiful gardens and tree-lined streets.
Are you excited for the construction walls at EPCOT to finally come down and see the newly transformed Communicore Plaza? Leave us a comment to let us know!
Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel specializing in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!
Brightline passengers will be able to easily book travel via Mears to their final destination
The recent Brightline expansion has made traveling to the central Florida area easier than ever. For guests traveling to a central Florida theme park, however, transportation from the Brightline station to the park requires additional transportation. Mears has announced a new partnership with Brightline that will make this last step easier than ever!
According to a post on the Mears Facebook page, “Mears is excited to announce our new partnership with Brightline. Brightline users will be able to book either Mears’ Private Luxury Rides to any location or passage on our Shared Connect Shuttles to specific Orlando Locations!”
Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel specializing in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!
We now have an up-close look at the new EPCOT Ride Share Loop
We recently reported that construction of the new EPCOT Ride Share Loop has been completed and the loop is officially open and in use. We now have updated photos of the loop area to share with you!
The ride-share loop is located adjacent to the HeiHei parking lots. The new loop area includes signs directing guests to the ride-share area, signage for rideshare drivers to enter the loop, and as signs directing guests to the park entrance.
The rideshare loop is used by Uber and Lyft, however, the Minivans continue to drop guests off near the EPCOT resort bus stops (which provides a closer walk to the park entrance than the rideshare loop).
Do you utilize ride-share services while at the Walt Disney World parks? If so what are your thoughts on the new loop? Leave us a comment to let us know!
Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel specializing in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!
Wakanda was mentioned by D’Amaro as a possible inclusion for further park expansion
Marvel fans may soon be able to walk in the path of the Black Panther and see the home of one of the largest Vibranium stores on Earth. Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro recently indicated Wakanda is being considered for inclusion in future park expansion plans.
The Walt Disney Company recently announced plans to “accelerate and expand investment in its Parks, Experiences, and Products segment to nearly double capital expenditures over the course of approximately 10 years to roughly $60 billion, including by investing in expanding and enhancing domestic and international parks and cruise line capacity.”
Further in the same announcement, D’Amaro noted “Frozen, one of the most successful and popular animated franchises of all time, could have a presence at the Disneyland Resort. Wakanda has yet to be brought to life. The world of Coco is just waiting to be explored. There’s a lot of storytelling opportunity.”
The specific mention of Wakanda indicates this is an expansion idea that Disney is considering. Note Wakanda is the only possible expansion mentioned by D’Amaro that has not already been discussed, with Frozen-themed areas already existing in several Disney parks and Coco previously mentioned for inclusion in the refresh of DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom along with a presence in Disneyland Paris.
Are you excited about a possible Wakanda land at a Disney park? Any specific attraction ideas you can think of based on the Black Panther movies and comics? Leave us a comment and let us know!
Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel specializing in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!
Disney+ has some exciting blockbusters and spooky additions to its content library for the month of October. Here is a full list of all the exciting titles coming to the streaming service starting October 1.
Sunday, October 1
– Toy Story Funday Football (Livestreaming at 9:30 am ET)
Monday, October 2
– Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats
Tuesday, October 3
Dancing with the Stars(Season 32) – Episode 2 – (Live 5:00-7:31 pm PT) “Dancing with the Stars” is the hit series hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough in which celebrities are paired with trained ballroom dancers to compete in themed choreographed dance routines that are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts, including Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough.
Star Wars: Ahsoka –Finale – Episode 8 Set after the fall of the Empire, “Star Wars: Ahsoka” follows the former Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy.
– Haunted Mansion – Hailey’s On It! (S1, 5 episodes) – Kiff (S1, 1 episode) – SuperKitties (S1, 3 episodes) – The Villains of Valley View (S2, 4 episodes)
Thursday, October 5
Friday, October 6
Loki (Season 2) – Premiere – Available at 6:00 pm PT Marvel Studios’ “Loki” Season 2 picks up in the aftermath of the shocking season finale when Loki finds himself in a battle for the soul of the Time Variance Authority. Along with Mobius, Hunter B-15, and a team of new and returning characters, Loki navigates an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous multiverse in search of Sylvie, Judge Renslayer, Miss Minutes, and the truth of what it means to possess free will and glorious purpose.
– Bobi Wine: The People’s President – Camping Out – Chips Ahoy – Fiddling Around – Inferior Decorator – Old MacDonald Duck – When the Cat’s Away – Wyken, Blyken and Nod
Tuesday, October 10
Dancing With the Stars(Season 32) – Episode 3 – (Live 5:00-7:31pm PT) “Dancing with the Stars” is the hit series hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough in which celebrities are paired with trained ballroom dancers to compete in themed choreographed dance routines that are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts, including Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.
4EVER – *Premiere – All Episodes Streaming 4EVER is the acting debut of CNCO’s four members: Christopher Vélez (“Andy”), Richard Camacho (“Ian”), Zabdiel De Jesús (“Ciro”), and Erick Brian Colón (“Darío”), and it tells the story of four talented youngsters who undertake the challenging road towards recognition as a band in Miami’s music scene.
The musicians meet by chance during a fight in a restaurant. Soon they find themselves involved in an unexpected situation: a valuable guitar disappears and the four of them must recover it before its owner realizes that one of them had borrowed it without letting him know. To achieve this, these talented musicians will need to take over the Miami music scene and create a successful band. When personal differences and betrayals come to light, the search for a unique melody will become the common language that will keep them together.
Thursday, October 12
Loki (Season 2) – Episode 2 – Available at 6:00pm PT Marvel Studios’ “Loki” Season 2 picks up in the aftermath of the shocking season finale when Loki finds himself in a battle for the soul of the Time Variance Authority. Along with Mobius, Hunter B-15 and a team of new and returning characters, Loki navigates an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous multiverse in search of Sylvie, Judge Renslayer, Miss Minutes and the truth of what it means to possess free will and glorious purpose.
Friday, October 13
Goosebumps – Premiere – Episodes 1-5 Streaming “Goosebumps,” the chilling new series inspired by R.L. Stine’s worldwide bestselling books, follows a group of five high schoolers as they embark on a shadowy and twisted journey to investigate the tragic passing three decades earlier of a teen named Harold Biddle – while unearthing dark secrets from their parents’ past.
Dancing with the Stars(Season 32) – Episode 4 – (Live 5:00-7:31pm PT) “Dancing with the Stars” is the hit series hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough in which celebrities are paired with trained ballroom dancers to compete in themed choreographed dance routines that are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts, including Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.
Wednesday, October 18
– PJ Masks: Power Heroes Music Videos (Shorts) (S1, 10 episodes)
Thursday, October 19
Loki (Season 2) – Episode 3 – Available at 6:00pm PT Marvel Studios’ “Loki” Season 2 picks up in the aftermath of the shocking season finale when Loki finds himself in a battle for the soul of the Time Variance Authority. Along with Mobius, Hunter B-15 and a team of new and returning characters, Loki navigates an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous multiverse in search of Sylvie, Judge Renslayer, Miss Minutes and the truth of what it means to possess free will and glorious purpose.
Friday, October 20
– Werewolf by Night in Color
Goosebumps – Episode 6 “Goosebumps,” the chilling new series inspired by R.L. Stine’s worldwide bestselling books, follows a group of five high schoolers as they embark on a shadowy and twisted journey to investigate the tragic passing three decades earlier of a teen named Harold Biddle – while unearthing dark secrets from their parents’ past.
Tuesday, October 24
Dancing with the Stars(Season 32) – Episode 5 – (Live 5:00-7:31pm PT) Dancing with the Stars” is the hit series hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough in which celebrities are paired with trained ballroom dancers to compete in themed choreographed dance routines that are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts, including Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.
Wednesday, October 25
– Big City Greens (S4, 5 episodes) – Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge (S2, 7 episodes) – Theme Song Takeover (Shorts) (S3, 7 episodes) – Primal Survivor: Extreme African Safari (S1, 6 episodes)
Thursday, October 26
Loki (Season 2) – Episode 4 –Available at 6:00pm PT Marvel Studios’ “Loki” Season 2 picks up in the aftermath of the shocking season finale when Loki finds himself in a battle for the soul of the Time Variance Authority. Along with Mobius, Hunter B-15 and a team of new and returning characters, Loki navigates an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous multiverse in search of Sylvie, Judge Renslayer, Miss Minutes and the truth of what it means to possess free will and glorious purpose.
Friday, October 27
– Explorer: Lake of Fire (Special)
LEGO Marvel Avengers: Code Red – Premiere The Avengers assemble to save New York City, but after an argument between Black Widow and her father Red Guardian about his parenting style, he disappears under mysterious circumstances. As the Avengers investigate, they discover that the villainous Collector is kidnapping every character who has the word “red” in their name. Determined to find her father, it’s up to Black Widow now to lead the Avengers to find the Collector’s evil lair and free the prisoners from his evil clutches.
Goosebumps – Episode 7 “Goosebumps,” the chilling new series inspired by R.L. Stine’s worldwide bestselling books, follows a group of five high schoolers as they embark on a shadowy and twisted journey to investigate the tragic passing three decades earlier of a teen named Harold Biddle – while unearthing dark secrets from their parents’ past.
Tuesday, October 31
Dancing with the Stars(Season 32) – Episode 6 – (Live 5:00-7:31pm PT) “Dancing with the Stars” is the hit series hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough in which celebrities are paired with trained ballroom dancers to compete in themed choreographed dance routines that are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts, including Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.
What do you think of the October lineup from Disney+? What title are you looking forward to watching the most? Let us know in a comment.
Fatal Accident Delays First-Ever Brightline Train from Miami to Orlando
This morning marked a significant milestone with the inaugural train journey from Miami to Orlando. However, this historic moment was accompanied by a delay of 30 minutes due to a tragic incident along the Brightline route, as confirmed by Brightline representatives.
Regrettably, Delray Beach police have confirmed that a pedestrian lost their life after being struck by a different Brightline train traveling from West Palm to Miami.
This unfortunate incident underscores the importance of safety measures along the rail route as these new transportation connections are established.
Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America, today announced that service to Orlando International Airport will begin on September 22, 2023. Get ready to connect between Orlando and South Florida (Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach) with inaugural rides available for booking at gobrightline.com or by downloading the Brightline app on iOS and Android.
“Opening Orlando fulfills our ultimate business model. We have seen incredible enthusiasm from the business and tourism industries eager to travel between Central and South Florida,” shared Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. “As we start service to Orlando for peak holiday seasons, I encourage everyone to check calendars, make plans, visit our website or app and reserve a seat now.”
For a limited time, Brightline is offering one-way SMART fares starting at $79 for adults and $39 for kids. Groups of 4+ will automatically save an additional 25 percent on SMART fares. SMART service offers a comfortable business-class option onboard in hand-stitched leather seats, complimentary Starlink WiFi, multiple power and USB outlets and an array of food and beverages available for purchase.
One-way PREMIUM fares start at $149, a first class experience with added amenities including a dedicated PREMIUM lounge, priority boarding, checked luggage, and complimentary snacks and beverages throughout the journey.
Brightline also offers a variety of industry promotions for its guests. For corporate riders, Brightline for Business is a dedicated portal for companies to save with fixed rate rides designed for company needs. Starting this fall, students with eligible email domains can receive up to 25 percent off SMART rides after creating a Brightline account using an active college or university email. Travel advisors can sign up now for information on discounted rates. Brightline expects to offer commissionable fares in the near future, and to be bookable on GDS by the end of 2023.
Welcome, foolish mortals! The Disney PhotoPass Studio in Disney Springs has new Haunted Mansion backdrops! Kindly step all the way inside and take some spooktacular photos.
Stick out your thumb and join the Hitchhiking Ghosts for a spooky photo! The background features the three Hitchhiking Ghosts each on their own pilar. A black fence separates guests from the ghoulish ghosts.
To the left you’ll see the sign for The Haunted Mansion under a light. And behind the ghosts is the outline of The Haunted Mansion.
“Serpents and spiders, tail of a rat — call in the spirits… to the #DisneyPhotoPass Studio at Disney Springs 👻 This new Haunted Mansion-inspired portrait studio is the perfect backdrop for your fall photos! 📸
All of these frightening photos are included with the purchase of Memory Maker 🕷️”
Will you be heading to Disney Springs for some wickedly cool photos?
If you’d like to plan your next Disney trip, contact me for a free vacation quote! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation!
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Win 2023 Golden Ticket Award
Two Walt Disney World attractions recently won 2023 Golden Ticket Awards! Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot both won the award!
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance won the award for Best Dark Ride. The attraction is located at both Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland. The attraction is a trackless dark ride and motion simulator.
Guests join Star Wars characters Rey, Poe Dameron, and Finn as resistance fighters. They get captured by the First Order and have to escape the Star destroyer where they run into Kylo Ren.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in Epcot won the award for Best New Attraction Installation. The ride opened in 2022 and replaced Ellen’s Energy Adventure. It’s an amazing roller-coaster with a backwards launch. Guests join the Guardians of the Galaxy on a time and space-hopping adventure, running from the Celestial Eson. The ride soundtrack rotates through six awesome songs:
Disco Inferno” by the Trammps
“I Ran (So Far Away)” by A Flock of Seagulls
“Conga” by Miami Sound Machine
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears
“One Way or Another” by Blondie
“September” by Earth, Wind and Fire
Do you agree with the awards these two rides received?
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300 Animals Born This Year at Walt Disney World Resort
Over 300 animals were born this year at the Walt Disney World Resort! From aquatic animals like cuttlefish and an eagle ray pup at The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT, to terrestrial mammals, including an aardvark and red river hog piglet, to more than 150 birds, so many amazing animals were born at the resort in 2023.
From welcoming the birth of endangered animals through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan to helping with their successful on-stage debuts, Disney’s incredibly talented cast members and animal care experts on Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team continue to bring people and nature together through memorable experiences every day.
Take a look at just a few of these amazing animals that were born at Disney World in 2023.
Zebra Foals Join Kilimanjaro Safaris
The team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom welcomed not one but two Hartmann’s mountain zebra foals to Kilimanjaro Safaris. Born just six days apart, Cricket and Dot can be seen prancing around the savanna with their parents. Each foal has unique stripe patterns, if you look close enough. But an even easier way to tell them apart is Cricket loves the water and often can be seen splashing in puddles, while Dot loves to get her “zoomies” out by quickly galloping around the savanna.
Cotton-top Tamarin Twins on Discovery Island
An adorable set of cotton-top tamarin twins were born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in June, and they have been a favorite of park guests since they were 24 hours old. These tiny twins are now just bigger than the palm of a hand and are starting to explore their Discovery Island habitat without the help of mom and dad. This playful pair love chasing each other in the trees and are amazingly acrobatic.
Yellow-backed Duiker Makes Her Savanna Debut
As moms around the country spent the summer preparing to send their children to school, some for the first time, a yellow-backed duiker mom named Pearl also was preparing her daughter for a big milestone. After spending a few months bonding with mom backstage, yellow-backed duiker baby Penny, born in the spring, just made her on-stage debut! Yellow-backed duikers are an extremely shy and reclusive species, so look really hard for Penny and Pearl next time you visit Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, presented by Off! Repellants.
BONUS: Cinderella Pony at Tri-Circle-D Ranch
Though it’s not Disney’s Animal Kingdom, there’s no way I cannot mention Pixie the Shetland pony foal born in July at Tri-Circle-D Ranch! While she is actually the third Shetland pony born at the ranch this year, joining Sprout and Finn, Pixie is the first Cinderella pony and already has taken her first steps in training to one day join the Cinderella carriage team with her mom Lady and sister Lilly.
What animals are you excited to see at Walt Disney World?
Ready to plan your next Disney trip? Contact me for a free vacation quote! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation.
Disney May Extend Monorail Route as part of Disneyland Expansion
Disney is currently working on plans to expand the Disneyland Resort. The monorail route could be extended as well to fit with the expansion. The DisneylandForward documentation was recently updated and shows a possible monorail extension.
The Orange County Register is reporting that buried in the 17,000-page Environmental Impact Report from Disney is a plan to expand the 1959 monorail route. The Disneyland monorail route would extend to a proposed 17,000-car parking garage and the Toy Story parking lot.
“In addition to an extensive network of landscaped pedestrian thoroughfares, conveyance systems will transport Disneyland Resort guests around the project.
The monorail/guest transportation systems shall move guests from the Hotel District to the Theme Park District. Future connections may also be provided to the Future Expansion Southeast District.
Disneyland Forward Environmental Impact Report”
The “Southeast District” refers to the current Toy Story parking lot. Disney also owns land behind GardenWalk, which is an outdoor shopping district that Disneyland doesn’t own. The space is currently used for Cast Member parking but is now being proposed as a future 17,000-space parking garage.
The monorail extension would connect the theme parks to the parking lots/garages.
We’re looking forward to seeing what the future holds for the Disneyland Resort expansion!
Magic Kingdom guests will only have one opportunity to catch the Festival of Fantasy Parade
The end of the peak summer travel season has brought about an adjustment to the daily Disney parks schedule: the Festival of Fantasy Parade will only have 1 show each day.
The Festival of Fantasy Parade has historically only been shown once per day, however, 2 shows have been the typical norm since its return in February 2022. Starting October 1, 2023, the number of parades will return to 1 each day, with only 1 showing planned through the end of the current park calendar, which runs through early November.
Disney describes the parade as follows:
“The unbridled enchantment and vivid pageantry of Fantasyland—and its many inhabitants—winds its way through the park in a thrilling parade spectacular. The dazzling mix of floats, motion and original music will keep you humming along for days to come.
Be a part of this grand gala, with spectacular, state-of-the-art floats starring some of your favorite Disney Characters from Tangled, Peter Pan and The Little Mermaid. It’s a festival of fun for everyone!”
Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel specializing in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!
All new Oswald Annual Passholder Treats now available in EPCOT
We recently shared a first look at the new Oswald Annual Passholder magnet that is now available in EPCOT. While passholders are in the park to snag their magnet, they can snack on the new Oswald Annual Passholder Treats.
The Oswald Cookies ‘n Cream Shake is your classic cookies ‘n cream milkshake that comes with an Oswald chocolate coin on top.
Have you tried one of these new snacks? Leave us a comment to let us know!
Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel specializing in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!
