Walt Disney World Resort Update for January 15-21, 2019

Walt Disney World Resort Update for January 15-21, 2019

 

Writer's note: As those readers that follow MousePlanet social media channels know, I was away from the Walt Disney World Resort this past week, invited by Disney Cruise Line to sail aboard Disney Magic from Miami, Florida, for five nights to the Western Caribbean, including a visit to Disney's Castaway Cay and a Marvel Day at Sea with the debut of Captain Marvel. It was a voyage filled with fun and top-notch Disney entertainment and service; I will have a full report as a separate article here on MousePlanet soon! Disney Parks Blog provided an advanced look at Captain Marvel's debut last week too.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Visiting George Town, Grand Cayman requires taking a tender to and from the ship, offering a great view of the stately bow of a Disney Cruise Line vessel like "Disney Magic." Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

Back at Walt Disney World Resort, lots of new things get underway on Friday. Watch our social media channels this week for more and a wrap-up in next week's Update. First this week, on Wednesday, we will bring you highlights of a media preview of the third edition of Epcot International Festival of the Arts ahead of its Friday opening (and, of course, you can visit this page of DisneyWorld.com for an overview of the Festival). On Friday, we will also bring you highlights of our first look at Mickey & Minnie's Surprise Celebration at Magic Kingdom, including the new "Move it! Shake it! MousekeDance it! Street Party" and the Party with Pixar Pals at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Before next week's Update, we will also try to bring you the highlights of Disney's Animal Kingdom's celebration of 25 years of The Lion King and more.

Inside Disney Parks provides a look at some of the latest entertainment coming to Walt Disney World Resort this week and beyond (plus a bit about Disneyland Resort too). Video ©Disney.

News and Views

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2019 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Complete

The biggest runDisney event of the year, the Walt Disney World Marathon presented by Cigna, took place over this past weekend. Fredison Costa and Giovanna Martins, past champions, respectively won the male and female divisions of the 26th annual event.

More than 15,000 runners participated in the 26.2-mile 2019 Walt Disney World Marathon presented by Cigna. Photo ©Disney.

Brazilians Giovanna Martins and Fredison Costa continue their dominance of the Walt Disney World Marathon. Costa has seven of the last eight Disney Marathons. Martins has become the first woman to win four Disney Marathons (2015 and 2017, 2018, 2019). Photo ©Disney.

Costa, a native of Brazil who now lives in Kissimmee and trains at Walt Disney World Resort, recaptured the title after struggling through last year's race. It was his seventh Disney Marathon victory, leaving him one shy of Adriano Bastos' record of eight wins. Running in unseasonably warm Florida weather, Costa posted a time of 2:18:45, well-shy of the race record of 2:11:50, but well ahead of second-place finisher Nick Hilton (2:21:48), the Flagstaff, AZ runner who won the race a year ago, and Jose Lima of Brazil (2:26:40), who was third.

Fredison Costa reclaims his Disney Marathon title after struggling in last year's race. He won the 2019 race with a time of 2:18:45. It was Costa's seventh Disney Marathon victory, one shy of Adriano Bastos' record eight wins. Photo ©Disney.

Giovanna Martins of Salto, Brazil, is the first woman to win four Disney marathon titles, including the last three in a row. She is the only four-time women's winner in race history after crossing the finish line in 2:45:24 – more than two minutes ahead of Antonia Lins Da Silva of Fortaleza, Brazil, who was second (2:47:36) and Nancy Jurgens of Apex, North Carolina who was third (2:50:39).

Giovanna Martins of Salto, Brazil, won the women's division of the 26th annual Walt Disney World Marathon presented by Cigna for the third straight year, with a time of 2:45:24, and the fourth time overall. She is the only four-time women's winner in race history. Photo ©Disney.

The Marathon weekend was filled with touching and inspirational stories of athletes overcoming obstacles. Disney shared the moving story of Ron Wertley who took on the Walt Disney World Marathon’s Dopey Challenge–running all 48.6 miles of the 5K, 10K, half marathon and full marathon–in successive days despite having to train while undergoing chemotherapy treatments for cancer. He was first diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and given a 40% survival chance just after he completed the Dopey Challenge last January. But nearly a year of aggressive chemo treatments sent the cancer into a period of remission. Unfortunately, December brought news that the cancer had returned and doctors say he needs a 30-day stint in the hospital and an aggressive chemo regimen to combat the disease again. Nevertheless, Wertley was determined to participate in the Dopey Challenge (he has done all five previous ones), and he did so with the support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training. runDisney and supporting runners raised more than $98,000 to support the Society this year.

Ron Wertley completes Walt Disney World Marathon’s 48.6-mile Dopey Challenge just before a 30-day hospital stint to treat cancer. Photo ©Disney.

New Illuminations Dining Package Available at Epcot

With the nearly two decade-long run of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth coming to an end this fall, Epcot is offering a new dining package that combines a prix fixe menu with a selection of the Rose & Crown's menu, unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and dessert, with patio seating outside the Rose & Crown's Dining Room along the World Showcase Lagoon for its unique view of the show. More information is now available and reservations will be available starting Thursday (January 17) for seatings starting Friday (January 18) by calling (407)WDW-DINE or visiting this page of DisneyWorld.com.

The Rose & Crown Dining Room and Pub is located on the shore of World Showcase Lagoon. Its outdoor patio provides a unique view of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

A Masai Giraffe Calf Was Born Yesterday at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Late yesterday afternoon, Monday, January 14, Disney shared the news that a new Masai giraffe calf was just born on the savanna of Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The newest member of the tower stands approximately six feet tall, but it is still too early to tell the calf's gender. The calf and its mom, Mara, are doing well and are out on view to guests.

Around the same time as we received the news from Disney, we noticed that Kilimanjaro Safaris was listed as "Temporarily Closed" not very long before its scheduled 6:30 p.m. final scheduled safari of the day. Earlier this winter, when another new calf was introduced to the savanna, safari trucks were unable to make their usual photo stops in the area of the young calf and proceeded through the area with extra caution. Remember that the animals have the right-of-way, and waits to ride may be longer than posted.

Epcot Concerts News & Calendar

The Disney on Broadway Concert Series will take the stage three times nightly from January 18 through February 25 during the Epcot International Festival of the Arts. Dining packages are available at ArtfulEpcot.com or by calling (407)WDW-DINE. (Workshops around the Festival can also be booked at the website or by calling (407)WDW-TOUR.) Passholders can receive a 10% discount for these dining packages throughout the Festival during lunch and dinner (excludes alcohol, tax and gratuity).

The 2019 edition of the Disney on Broadway Concert Series will run three times nightly for the entire 39 days of the Epcot International Festival of the Arts. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Also expanded to seven days a week, beginning on March 6, the Garden Rocks Concert Series takes the stage three times nightly through June 3. Part of the schedule of performers has been released. Announced returning performers include The Spinners and Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone, and new to the Festival performers include TobyMac, Steven Curtis Chapman, Sister Sledge, and Colin Hay of Men at Work. Reservations open this Thursday, December 13. For more information or reservations, call (407)WDW-DINE or visit FreshEpcot.com.

For the convenience of our readers, all of the scheduled Disney on Broadway Concert Series performances at America Gardens Theatre are shown in our Google Calendar of Epcot Events. The performers announced so far for the Garden Rocks Concert Series that follows later this year have also been added to the calendar. While our Google Calendar of Epcot Events includes a list of the scheduled performers, it is always best to check the My Disney Experience app, Times Guide, and, yes, sometimes even signs posted at the park entrances and at the theater noting last minute changes. You can add the whole Event calendar to any calendar that supports the iCal format (like iPhone and Mac) by copying this link and, indeed, if when we get additional information and update the calendar, the calendar will update on your subscribed device as well. The calendar is provided as a courtesy "as is, where is" without any guarantees. Given the effort it took to create it and keep it updated, we do respectfully request that you do not post our entire calendar on another site without first asking our permission. Walt Disney World Resort does provide schedules in the My Disney Experience app, but does not allow you to add dates to calendars outside the app itself.

Views Around the World

Having been on a "beyond-the-berm" Disney Cruise this past week, we have just a few views from Magic Kingdom this week. A few new views from Disney Springs are also included together with the latest news about that entertainment, shopping, and dining area below.

Magic Kingdom

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

This and That…

…Disney Parks Blog announced the 12 new panelists joining the 28 returning panelists comprising the 2019 Disney Parks Moms Panel. The new members were selected from thousands of applicants and help guests plan everything from Disney Cruise Line vacations to Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. Panelists also provide guidance about Disney Vacation Club and can answer questions in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French. Visit DisneyParksMomsPanel.com for more information or to ask a Disney vacation planning questions.

…While sailing aboard Disney Magic we were unable to attend the V.I.Passholder Potion Purple pop-up event, but, for those foodies interested in where to get the purple treats being offered up on both coasts, Disney Parks Blog has you covered with its latest Foodie Guide.

Disney Style shop at Disney Springs West Side has a large selection of the new Potion Purple merchandise available for sale. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

…The NFL Pro Bowl returns to Orlando's Camping World Stadium for the third consecutive year on Sunday, January 27, 2019. In connection with that game pitting stars of the NFL's two conferences, the AFC and the NFC, the NFL Pro Bowl Experience returns to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for the third time during Pro Bowl Week, January 21 to 27. Fans can check out AFC and NFC team practices, participate in activities such as the 40-yard dash and the revamped NFL Skills Showdown, featuring several new events for the NFL's top skill players, including the 40-yard Splash, a Gridiron Gauntlet obstacle course, and a Precision Passing contest. NFL Pro Bowl Week events at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex are open to the public, with no charge to guests

…Speaking of ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, the hub for Walt Disney World Resort sporting events was recently honored by the readers of Sports Destination Magazine as the top outside sports venue in the country. The magazine, each summer, publishes its annual Reader’s Choice Awards, where readers cast votes in a variety of travel categories. Sports Destination Magazine is a bi-monthly publication specifically designed to provide sports event managers and organizers innovative and creative strategies essential to hosting successful youth, amateur and professional sporting events.

…Walt Disney World Golf is offering a series of four-week early spring junior golf club sessions from January to early March (okay, that is winter to most of the rest of the country, but still...). The camps run on four consecutive Wednesdays or Saturdays at Disney's Palm, Magnolia and Oak Trail golf courses. Visit Walt Disney World Golf's Blog for more information, or call Michael Schlager, PGA Director of Instruction at (407)454-5096, or email him at mschlager@palmergolf.com.

…A new Disney-focused event series is coming to Central Florida. Give Kids The World, the Kissimmee-based nonprofit resort which fulfills wish vacations for critically-ill children visiting the Central Florida theme parks, is hosting a speaker series at their resort. The first event is an evening with Former Vice President of Operations at Walt Disney World, Lee Cockerell, on January 17 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. During this discussion moderated by Jeff Barnes, Lee will share about his time at the company and give insights into what makes a great leader. 100% of ticket sales go directly to programs benefiting the children and families Give Kids The World serves. Admission starts at $35 which includes general seating and parking. Other packages range from $50 for preferred seating to up to $150.00 for a VIP experience with Lee. You can purchase tickets and see the event details on this Eventbrite page.

…Walt Disney World Resort revealed the 100 youths selected from across the nation who will participate in the 2019 Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and ESSENCE Magazine, March 21-24. Each selected student receives in an all-expenses paid trip to Walt Disney World Resort for an immersive four-day experience that encourages teens "to be positive, to be 'all in' and to carry what they learn back with them, so they can relentlessly pursue their dreams and make a difference in the lives of others." The "Disney Dreamers" will visit the parks and go behind the scenes to discover career opportunities, will hear from Harvey and other celebrity and motivational speakers, and will attend career-oriented workshops ranging from animation to zoology.

…Speaking of dreams, last week, Disney Parks Blog launched its new "Dreams Within Reach" series by introducing the first Disney Aspire graduate, Anthony Payne, a Custodial Cast Member at Epcot. The Disney Aspire program was launched to help the more than 85,000 hourly cast members reach their goals by providing them with education programs, coaching and job skills, and giving them the opportunity to enroll in online courses across a network of schools, with Disney paying the cost of the tuition and books. You can read more about the program and eligible cast members can apply at aspire.disney.com.

…And, finally, for more Disney vacations beyond-the-berm(s), Disney Parks Blog noted that Adventures by Disney will offer more European river cruise sailings than ever before starting in 2020. A new Rhone River itinerary through southern France joins AbD's line-up of sailings along the Seine, Rhine and Danube rivers. More news to come on January 24.

…The MousePlanet Newsletter is here! The newsletter contains a recap of the week's articles (in case you miss a day), news that may have developed since the weekly Updates were published, and tips about what's happening at the Disney theme parks for the coming weekend. We'll also include a fun bonus, such as an Eye Spy or a trivia question. To subscribe to our free newsletter, just enter your email in the box below.

New & Coming Soon at Disney Springs

This section collects all of the Disney Springs retail and dining events we are aware of in one place along with our most recent views of the area. Event items NEW to the Update are marked accordingly.

Disney Springs was decorated with runDisney banners during Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. Note the construction wall in the background of this photo. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

New construction walls have been installed around some of the Cirque du Soleil theater building on the West Side. Since "La Nouba" closed on December 31, 2017, this is the first publicly visible activity at the theater that Disney and Cirque announced would next house a new show celebrating Disney characters. No opening date has yet been announced. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Also on the West Side, glass windows have been installed at the future site of the NBA Experience; it is scheduled to open this summer. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Enzo's Hideaway Tunnel Bar

Partnering with Goose Island Beer Co., Enzo's will host its first "Smuggler's Series" of 2019, on Saturday, January 19, from 12-2 p.m. The Smuggler's Series is a recurring dining event featuring notable beer, wine, and spirit pairings at the Hideaway. Lunch will feature Bourbon County Stout pairings in partnership with Goose Island Brewery. Goose Island Brewery educator and industry expert, Mike Smith, will formally instruct attendees about the brewery's beer barrel aging program and provide insight on each of the beers selected to complement the dishes on the four-course tasting menu. Enzo's Hideaway Executive Chef John Miele has paired the brews with Italian specialties like aged fontina en carozza, roasted baby beets with burrata, grilled main lobster linguini, ricotta gnudi and braised lamb ragu, and a bittersweet chocolate ganache tart, enhancing the flavors of the stouts in each course. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit this page of PatinaGroup.com.

The Edison

The Edison's Burger of the Month Series is going to continue through 2019. The January Burger, "The Double Stack Deli Burger," has a patty that is a blend of sirloin, short rib, and brisket and is topped with thinly sliced hot pastrami, corn chips, spicy mustard, and pickles. It is served with The Edison's "famous hand-cut" fries.

Jaleo - NEW Details

As we noted last week, Jaleo a Spanish restaurant by José Andrés, has updated its website to reflect that it expects to open during winter 2019. While no specific opening date has yet been published, this week the restaurant released additional details about the new venue.

The signs on Jaleo's exterior construction walls have been updated to show that the restaurant is now expected to open this winter. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The 22,000 square foot restaurant is Chef José Andrés' largest venue to date. The shape of the building is inspired by an artichoke, a vegetable native to Spain, Andrés' homeland. The petals of the artichoke form pergolas, extending toward the outdoors; the two-story building's interior has no solid walls and features large windows offering views of the lake. A double height central courtyard visually connects the restaurant's two floors.

"There are no cubic forms, no opaque walls, no straight lines: here reigns a plant-like organic structure with its dynamic forms. An avant-garde, expressionist and welcoming architecture," according toJuli Capella, principal at Capella Garcia Arquitectura, the firm responsible for Jaleo's design. The restaurant's colors are typical of Spanish citrus, particularly orange and lemon, and its interior includes artwork from Spanish photographers Rafael Vargas and Ciuco Gutiérrez, as well as a large mural from Marc Jesús, a famous painter from Menorca.

The front corner of Jaleo overlooking the main promenade of Disney Springs West Side will be a quick-service concept with Spanish street-food-inspired sandwiches and salads. The restaurant interior includes a "family-style gathering space" as well as more elegant central seating, anchored by the restaurant's open kitchen and wood fire grill. Private dining options include two terraces, one overlooking the Disney Springs promenade and another overlooking the lake.

Status of Parking Availability at Disney Springs

Those who visit Disney Springs during the weekends or during busy times of the year at the Resort know that the two parking structures often fill to capacity during those peak times. Even the flat lot on the West Side can fill up during very busy times! Construction continues across Buena Vista Drive at the site of the new "Lemon" garage that will connect to Disney Springs by a series of pedestrian bridges. We have not yet heard when the new structure will be open, but stay tuned and, if you are driving on Buena Vista Drive, observe the overhead signs directing cars to the garages and lots with availability.

Crowd Forecast

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Resort Events

Check here to see if a park event might fall during your next trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. If you know of any in-park events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, please send us an email. More runDisney event information

Just click the year you want to expand (or close).

2019 Resort Events

2020 Resort Events

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Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Note: Not all attraction closures have been officially confirmed by Disney, and are all subject to change at any time. All refurbishment schedules are estimates only. We recommend checking for updates as you plan your visit. All information is subject to change without notice. To get the most recent updates, visit DisneyWorld.com or use the MyDisneyExperience App on your iOS or Android device.

View the different areas of the Resort by scrolling horizontally and selecting the one you want to read about. If the menu bar does not work on your screen, please let us know by email (include which Browser and Operating System you are using)!

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Current Discounts and Promotions

Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices, check the most recent Walt Disney World Resort Update. For your convenience, we have grouped the discount offers based on the intended audience. Check out the category that best matches you, and pick the offer that works best for you. And keep those tips coming—let us know if you find a better or different offer, so we can share it with other readers.

Walt Disney World Resort theme park tickets are rarely offered at deep discounts unless you are a resident of Florida or eligible for U.S. Military Personnel benefits. It is increasingly true that non-Florida residents tend to benefit the most by purchasing tickets in advance (and, of course, being mindful of the rules relevant to those tickets). As prices go up, it becomes even more important to pay heed: Don't get scammed! Never buy tickets from an unofficial or secondary outlet, such as through eBay or Craigslist. Never rent or purchase tickets from people approaching you outside Disney property stating they have remaining days or leftover tickets. This practice is against the terms of use for Walt Disney World Theme Park admissions, and may result in denial of entry. There is no way to determine if these tickets are valid until you try to use them to enter the parks. Only purchase Disney theme park tickets directly from Disney, an authorized seller, or a travel agency like MousePlanet travel partner Get Away Today.

 

 

Be sure to move the calendar to at least seven (7) days out, to see what ticket options and discounts are available for your planned visit.

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For Everyone

For Annual Passholders

For Disney Rewards VISA Credit Card Holders

For Military Personnel

For Florida Residents

For Disney Vacation Club Members

For Canada Residents

For U.K. Residents

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