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Walt Disney World Resort Update for July 24–30, 2018
Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Resort Events | Refurbishments and Attraction Closures | Discounts and Promotions
Writer's note: Back in the Walt Disney World Resort Update for July 10-16, 2018, we provided our first major update about many of the Christmas and other winter holiday celebrations around Walt Disney World Resort to start your planning, and we promised there would be more Christmas in July to come. That time is now, following last Friday's invited media event (and five months from today is, Christmas Eve). So, for whatever you may celebrate this winter, the Walt Disney World Resort wants you to know how you can celebrate at Disney's Central Florida Parks and Resorts because reservations are now open for lots of this year's seasonal festivities. In last week's Update, we added our first details about New Year's Eve, and there will be more information about ringing in 2019 and beyond when we move into fall.
Before we get to the news, a few observations about attraction wait times and crowds around Walt Disney World Resort now that Toy Story Land has been open for a few weeks. While Avatar Flight of Passage in Pandora-The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom still often commands standby times measured in hours, many of us (the "locals" that I chat with about the parks) have started to notice a bit more FastPass+ reservation availability for attractions like Epcot's Frozen Ever After and Disney's Animal Kingdom's Na'vi River Journey; both of those often were largely unavailable within 30 days of the scheduled time due to Resort guests' 60-day reservation priority. Likewise, with all three tracks again up and running on Toy Story Mania! and guests clamoring to ride the new Slinky Dog Dash Coaster and Alien Swirling Saucers, FastPass+ reservations for the older attraction seem more readily available. Indeed, I even noticed that Alien Swirling Saucers had no significant queue a half an hour before park closing this past Wednesday night, and, while Slinky Dog Dash Coaster had a posted 40 minute standby time, it actually took waiting only about 20 minutes to climb aboard. As always, your mileage may vary.
News and Views
Christmas in July: Winter Holidays Coming Soon | Introducing "V.I.PASSHOLDER" Events | Epcot Concert & Candlelight Processional News & Calendar | Views Around the World | This and That | Crowd Forecast
Christmas in July: Winter Holidays Coming Soon
For this year's Walt Disney World Resort "Christmas in July Media Event," Disney provided updates about some of the holiday merchandise, entertainment, and food and beverage offerings coming this fall as the winter holidays approach, and showed off abbreviated versions of the two marquee seasonal tours offered at the Resort by Adventures by Disney: the Holiday D-Lights Tour and the Yuletide Fantasy Tour. Since we covered some of the previously announced seasonal offerings in the Walt Disney World Resort Update for July 10-16, 2018, as mentioned in the Writer's Note above, we will largely provide just the latest information here. We will sprinkle in some of the facts from the tours in this and future updates, but will leave the bulk of the details for folks to discover when they take the tours themselves.
Merchandise
Nordic Winter will be a prominent theme in the holiday merchandise this year. Mixed in, of course, are lots of Disney Parks touches, like the drummer from the Enchanted Tiki Room, the clock from "it's a small world," and more. It will be joined by more Victorian style merchandise as well. You can expect to start seeing new holiday merchandise in October (but no specific release date has been announced yet), and, of course, Disney Days of Christmas at Disney Springs is the main place to look, but the collections will be in the parks as well.
Guests that have visited Disney's Contemporary Resort's merchandise locations may have noticed resort-themed ornaments in recent years. Those have drawn their inspiration from the resort's Grand Canyon Concourse style created by Disney Legend Mary Blair. This year, more resorts will offer themed ornaments as well. For example, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort will have a tiki figure and Disney's Art of Animation will have an artist's canvas. More to come.
Not only will the Nordic Winter style carry over to apparel, Disney will offer a new collection of "ugly" sweaters inspired by Disney characters and the parks. Similarly, "ugly" sweaters will be the theme of a new pin collection.
A new "ugly" Christmas sweaters pin collection is coming soon too. HDR Photo by Alan S Dalinka.
Of course, the holiday season will also include new seasonal headbands, and even a baseball cap with light up ornaments. New holiday plush toys, including holiday "babies" will be available as well.
Epcot
As regular readers will recall, the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays will return this year starting on November 18 with the three-times nightly Candlelight Processional retellings of the traditional story of Christmas starting on Thanksgiving Day, November 22. Our Epcot Concert & Candlelight Processional News & Calendar section below will get you up to speed with the latest information (no additional celebrity narrators were announced at the Media Event).
Likewise, the holiday storytellers around World Showcase are returning to Epcot this year. Marsha Jackson-Randolph, Entertainment Show Director, Disney Parks Live Entertainment also confirmed that both Joyful! (the gospel choir celebrating Christmas and Kwanzaa) and Mostly Kosher (the modern take on a klezmer band celebrating Hanukkah) will return this holiday season.
Finally, the Holiday Kitchens (food and beverage kiosks) will return around World Showcase for the third year. Some new holiday desserts are among the expected menu additions; more details about the menus likely will not be forthcoming for a couple of months.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Tom Vazzana, Entertainment Show Director, Disney Parks Live Entertainment, provided some additional details about the "Flurry of Fun" returning to the park this year. In addition to the return of Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! outside the Chinese Theatre (for its third season), Sunset Seasons Greetings, the multi-media show and projections on the Hollywood Tower Hotel on Sunset Boulevard will return for its second season. This year, in addition to the projections, video, lighting, and Disney "snow" effects along Sunset Boulevard, the show will introduce colorful lasers, including lasers interacting with the projections on the Hollywood Tower Hotel (note, of course, that you probably will not see Disney use the "Tower of Terror" attraction name in connection with Seasons Greetings to keep the holidays light and bright instead of full of "terror").
Also on Sunset Boulevard, Santa will again greet guests until Christmas Eve inside the Once Upon a Time store and then be replaced by Santa Goofy. Over at Echo Lake (near the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular), last year's addition of holiday theming and the park's main Christmas tree will be repeated and enhanced with even more decor. At the nearby Hyperion Theatre, the Frozen sing-along will reprise last year's holidays version featuring Olaf and the new songs from Olaf's Frozen Adventure.
Finally, you may have noticed that when decorating his backyard to create Toy Story Land, Andy strung up some Christmas lighting that is now a permanent part of the park. Tom Vazzana, acknowledged that and confirmed that the land will have additional holiday decor in addition to the previously announced holiday tunes at Alien Swirling Saucers.
Disney Springs
The live entertainment at Disney Springs will, of course, again include holiday themed offerings. MAC Cosmetics will also be back with a fashion (don't call it a makeover) event with more details coming this Fall. Stich will also headline an "Elf Hunt" to keep the non-shoppers in your Disney Springs group occupied (or distracted from your credit card use, if necessary).
Since its introduction in 2016, the Christmas Tree Trail in the former Marketplace bus loop keeps getting bigger. Last year, that was where Santa and his Chalet moved, and will be again this year. In fact, Tom Vazzana announced five more themed trees coming this year: Haunted Mansion, Star Wars, Four Parks (topped by a Monorail), Nordic Winter, and Mickey & Minnie. As last year, each tree on the trail will have at least one themed ornament on it that will also be available for sale at Disney Days of Christmas store.
Holiday Sleigh Rides at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Guests can once again enjoy Holiday Sleigh Rides at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground from November 23 to December 30. The 25-minute rides are $84/sleigh (which accommodates up to 4 adults, or two adults and three small children; each reservation includes one limited edition pin). Rides are scheduled from 5-10 p.m. nightly and advance reservations are available by calling (407)WDW-PLAY.
Disney's Holiday D-Lights
Every Monday through Thursday evening from November 26 through December 20, Adventures by Disney offers the 6-hour Holiday D-Lights Tour. After checking in outside the front entrance to Epcot (after security screening), the $279/person (tax not included) tour transports guests under the guide of a "holiday host" to an early evening, family-style barbecue dinner at Whispering Canyon Café inside Disney's Wilderness Lodge. After dinner, the tour goes backstage at Magic Kingdom to meet some of the team responsible for the Cinderella Castle dream lights display and then gets to watch the lighting from a prime location.
The tour then goes on to Epcot to see the Candlelight Processional ceremony and then the nightly showing of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth with the special holiday finale, all from reserved locations and with the added insights provided by the Adventures by Disney "holiday host." While personal photography is not permitted at any backstage locations visited, special photo opportunities are provided where photographs will be taken by Adventures by Disney (provided digitally later). At the end of the tour, each guest receives a limited edition pin that is exclusive to the tour.
For more information, visit this page of DisneyWorld.com or call (407)WDW-TOUR. Disney Vacation Club Member and Annual Passholder discounts are available. All guests must be at least 12 years old to participate (guests under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian), and a limited number of guests using ECVs may be accommodated on each tour (call for details).
Yuletide Fantasy
Adventures by Disney also offers the 3.5 hour behind the scenes tour exploring the logistics involved in creating the winter decorations all over the resort. The $139/person (plus tax) Yuletide Fantasy Tour includes visits with Holiday Services cast members that design the themed holiday decor, the Floral Department at the Disney Events Group, and a culinary artist at Amorette's Patisserie at Disney Springs. Like the Holiday D-Lights Tour, guests check in at Epcot's front entrance (after passing through security screening), and are then escorted by a guide and transported to each backstage location. Similarly, personal photography is not permitted at any backstage locations visited, but special photo opportunities are provided where photographs will be taken by Adventures by Disney (provided digitally later). At the end of the tour, each guest receives a limited edition pin that is exclusive to the tour.
Yuletide Fantasy is offered Monday through Wednesday, November 19-21, and then every Monday through Saturday, November 26-December 29 (except Christmas Day, December 25). For more information, visit this page of DisneyWorld.com or call (407)WDW-TOUR. Disney Vacation Club Member and Annual Passholder discounts are available. All guests must be at least 12 years old to participate (guests under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian), and a limited number of guests using ECVs may be accommodated on each tour (call for details).
Introducing "V.I.PASSHOLDER" Events
Disney is now gathering a collection of special offerings for Passholders under the name "V.I.PASSHOLDER Events." Like the recently emailed registration opportunity to Gold- and above-level Passholders for exclusive early-hours access to Toy Story Land in September, Disney says it will "show appreciation to … Passholders with exclusive events and experiences."
In an email sent to Passholders earlier this week, Disney lists four categories falling under the new V.I.Passholder banner, one of which will only be open to Gold- and above-level Passholders that register in response to emails to come over the next few weeks. The categories and descriptions of the perks are as follows:
- Passholder-Exclusive In-Park Offerings – Enjoy V.I.PASSHOLDER Perks during some of your favorite seasonal events throughout the year such as special giveaways and exclusive offerings.
- Merchandise Events – Take advantage of your merchandise discount at special events like Super Saturdays at Disney Springs.
- Special Surprises in the Parks – Experience sneak peeks of select new Park offerings!
- V.I.PASSHOLDER Nights – For our Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus, and Premier Passholders, enjoy special after-hours access to some of your favorite experiences on select dates starting August 2018. These events will have limited capacity and registration will be required. Invitations will be sent to Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus, and Premier Passholders via email over the next few weeks for V.I.PASSHOLDER Nights. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Passholder Extras page of DisneyWorld.com further elaborates on V.I.PASSHOLDER Nights, by saying that theses opportunities offer "lucky event goers access to select attractions, shops, and dining locations at Magic Kingdom park or Epcot for an extra 2 hours after each park closes." In other words, it sounds like it will be a little bit like "Extra Magic Hours" for Passholders lucky enough to register quickly enough. If getting in to these events is of interest to you, be sure to check your email frequently in coming weeks, and then be sure to respond immediately because, like the Toy Story Land exclusive access events in September, the slots likely will fill quickly.
One Passholder's Tip BONUS Edition: add the email address for "Disney Destinations Passholer" to your email software's VIP list! Your email client may vary, but on iOS, to add a sender to your VIP list, tap the name in the "From" field of an email from that sender and then click "Add to VIP." Depending on your Notification settings, these emails can be highlighted in your in-box and can even show up on your lock screen when they arrive.
Epcot Concert & Candlelight Processional News & Calendar
There is less than a month left of Epcot's Incredible Summer performances of the Guardians of the Galaxy-Awesome Mix Live! concert series. Its published showtimes are 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8 p.m., at the America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase. Passholders can get wristbands for Incredible Summer preferred seating at a podium just inside the entrance to The American Adventure (while supplies last and, as always, be prepared to show your Pass and photo ID).
Then the Eat to the Beat Concert Series kicks off on August 30, as the the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival gets under way and runs through Veterans Day, November 12. Ten days later, on Thanksgiving Day, Candlelight Processional takes over through December 30 (a partial listing of Candlelight Processional narrators is now available). Guests can now book dining packages for both the Eat to the Beat Concerts and Candlelight Processional. Visit TasteEpcot.com or call (407)939-3378 for reservations and information. Visit this page of DisneyWorld.com for Candlelight dining package information and reservations.
For the convenience of our readers, we list all of the scheduled acts in our Google Calendar of Epcot Events. You can also add it or any events on it to any calendar that supports the iCal format (like iPhone and Mac) by copying this link. When additional Candlelight Processional celebrity narrators are announced, we will those to our calendar as well.
The calendar is provided as a courtesy "as is, where is" without any guarantees. Given the effort it took to create it, 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
As always, the captions tell the story and include bits of news along the way.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Inside Beverley Sunset, a black curtain blocked access to Reel Vogue. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.
Epcot
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Just a moment after the prior photo, the hippopotamus opened its jaws to about its widest before descending below the water. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.
This and That
…As we mentioned back in the This and That section of the Walt Disney World Resort Update for February 27 - March 5, 2018, Be Our Guest Restaurant begins offering its new "enhanced" prix fixe dinner menu this Friday, May 27; a la carte dinner options will be offered through Thursday, July 26. The 3-course French-inspired menu includes appetizer, entrée, and dessert for $55 (age 10-and up), and $35 (children ages 3-9), plus tax and gratuity. The prix fixe dinner requires two table-service meal entitlements if using a Disney Dining Plan. As always, reservations can be made in My Disney Experience, this page of DisneyWorld.com, or by calling (407)WDW-DINE. Note, however that even with the new menu coming this week, be aware that the restaurant will be closed for refurbishment August 20-24.
…Speaking of prix fixe menus, Le Cellier Steakhouse in Canada pavilion at Epcot is offering one as an addition to its regular lunch menu through September 30. The prix fixe menu includes choice of appetizer (Cheddar Cheese Soup and the Le Cellier House Salad), choice of entrée (Steak and Frites, the Le Cellier Lobster “BLT” Burger; or the Spring Cavatelli Pasta), and dessert (Maple Creme Brûlée or the Chocolate Mousse Maple Leaf).
…And, finally, repeating from last week: also in Central Florida (but a bit of a drive over to the East Coast from Walt Disney World Resort), the 11th annual Tour de Turtles will be held at Disney's Vero Beach Resort this Saturday, July 28. This dawn event combines the Disney Animals, Science & Environment Team with the Sea Turtle Conservancy, in the release of loggerhead turtles that are be tracked by satellite during their journey from their nesting grounds on the beach to where they forage. This year, Disney Parks Blog is sponsoring the event, so it will be providing live coverage of the release (exact details have not yet been announced), and is encouraging readers to vote on Toy Story-inspired names for the turtles to be released. Last year, we were there when Sally and Cruise were released (inspired by Cars 3) and followed along their journeys of hundreds of miles each on the TourDeTurtles.org website. As a Disney Vacation Club Member, I will be there as a resort guest.
…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.
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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.
2018 Resort Events
- Disney H2O Glow Nights at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
- Every Thursday and Saturday, now through August 11; 8–11 p.m.
- Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom:
- July 28, August 4 & 11; 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.
- August 30, September 20; 9 p.m.– midnight
- Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom:
- August 17, 24, 28, 31
- September 3, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30
- October 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31
- Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – August 30 to November 12
- Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic – October 26–27
- Sunday Bubbles Brunch – October 28
- Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 1–4
- Holidays at Walt Disney World – begins November 8
- Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom:
- November 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 25, 27, 29, 30
- December 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21
- Epcot International Festival of the Holidays – November 18 to December 30
- Candlelight Processional at Epcot – November 22 to December 30
- Disney's Hollywood Studios Flurry of Fun – begins November 8
- Includes nightly presentations of Sunset Seasons Greetings and Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!
- Toy Story Land gets special holiday songs on Alien Swirling Saucers and more
- Disney's Animal Kingdom – begins November 8
- Diwali, the holiday Festival of Lights in India, celebrated as part of the UP! A Great Bird Adventure show.
- Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom:
- MouseAdventure Remix (unofficial event) – November 10
- Dapper Day (unofficial events)
- November 17 – Disney's Animal Kingdom (until 3-5 p.m.) & Magic Kingdom (evening);
- November 18 – Epcot
2019 Resort Events
- 2019 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 9–13, 2019 - REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
- Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 21–24, 2019.
- Star Wars Rival Run Weekend – April 4–7, 2019.
| If you participate in (or are considering signing up for) runDisney events, visit our Team MousePlanet forum on the MousePad discussion board, where you can join our community of health-minded readers and staff. For current information on runDisney registration dates and capacity, see Lorree Tachell's runDisney Race Capacity Updates in the Team MousePlanet forum on our MousePad discussion board. |
2018 Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic Events (including event reservation opening dates)
- Moonlight Magic at Epcot – August 15
All members (filled to capacity, but check for additional availability due to cancelations) - Moonlight Magic at Disney's Hollywood Studios – September 19, 26; October 3
Members with resort reservations – August 30
All members (pending remaining availability) – September 13
| Introduced in 2017 as part of Membership Magic Ever After, complimentary Moonlight Magic events invite Disney Vacation Club Members (that are eligible for the Membership Extras benefits) and their guests to visit Disney Parks at the end of their regular operating hours and after the park has closed to the public. Members (and their parties) with reservations find shorter-than-usual wait times on popular attractions, meet rare characters, enjoy complimentary refreshments, have dance parties, and more. Please note that, in order to allow as many Members as possible to enjoy Moonlight Magic, only one event date for each participating park is available per Membership. Visit disneyvacationclub.com during specified reservation windows to (attempt to) secure access to the event as well as to find additions to the Moonlight Magic event slate, updated party hours, and transportation information. |
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.
Magic Kingdom
- Liberty Square Riverboat – closed for refurbishment (awaiting an update to its reopening).
- Prince Charming Regal Carroussel – closed for refurbishment (likely to reopen by August)
- Be Our Guest Restaurant – scheduled refurbishment from August 20-24, 2018
- Stitch's Great Escape – My Disney Experience lists as "available seasonally throughout the year."
Epcot
- American Heritage Gallery at The American Adventure – reopening imminent
- Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe at Norway pavilion – closed for refurbishment through summer 2018.
- Ellen's Energy Adventure at Universe of Energy – Permanently closed on August 13, 2017.
Guardians of the Galaxy-themed roller coaster-type attraction opens in approximately 2021. - Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable – closed February 3, 2018. Theater to be repurposed.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
- The Great Movie Ride – Permanently closed August 13, 2017.
The new "Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway" attraction to open in Chinese Theatre in 2019.
Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Flights of Wonder (Caravan Stage) – Show closed on December 31, 2017.
"UP! A Great Bird Adventure" starring Russell and Dug and their bird opened in its place on April 22, 2018.
Blizzard Beach
- No known closures at this time.
Typhoon Lagoon
- No known closures at this time.
Disney Springs
- World of Disney – phased store closings for refurbishment underway until Fall 2018.
The Disney Corner now open in Town Center offering select merchandise during refurbishment.
DisneyStyle now open on the West Side offering additional Disney-themed merchandise. - DisneyQuest – Closed as of July 3, 2017.
The NBA Experience expected to open Summer 2019. - Portobello Country Italian Trattoria – Closed April 24, 2017.
Terralina Crafted Italian has opened in its place. - La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil – Show closed on December 31, 2017.
A new Cirque du Soleil show is now in development with its premiere date to be announced. - Wolfgang Puck Grand Café – closed August 1, 2017.
Location is being transformed into Jaleo, a restaurant featuring Spanish cuisine, expected to open 2018.
A new Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill is under construction next door to the Coca-Cola Store, expected to open 2018.
Wolfgang Puck Express continues to operate in its existing location in the Marketplace.
Resorts
- Caribbean Beach – Centertown, the resort's marketplace, will be expanded with new waterfront dining and retail shopping areas. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed in Summer 2018, with the overall project completed 2019–20.
- Coronado Springs – A new 15-story tower overlooking Lago Dorado, the resort's central lake, will add 500 rooms featuring suites and concierge level services, and a rooftop dining facility that will include panoramic views of nighttime fireworks shows at the Theme Parks. The resort also plans to refurbish current resort rooms and transform some of its landscape. The project is expected to be completed 2019-20.
Current Discounts & 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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Travel Discounts for Everyone |
Memory Maker pre-arrival discount Disney's PhotoPass service provides a discount on Disney Memory Maker pre-arrival packages. For $199 plus tax, Walt Disney World guests can digitally download any photos associated with their Memory Maker account, including photos taken on attractions. The advanced purchase price is $169, a $30 savings. Applicable taxes are charged to all orders. Purchase must be made more than three days prior to arrival at the Walt Disney World Resort for the discount. All sales are final, and not eligible for an exchange or refund. Both the immediate and discount version of Memory Maker can be purchased at this page of DisneyWorld.com. Ultimate Disney Fall Into Magic Package Disney Parks Blog announced details of a limited time deal for guests planning to visit during the week of Labor Day, September 3, and departing on September 8. The package includes a five-night stay at a select Disney Resort, four-day Magic Your Way tickets, plus a special "welcome dinner party inspired by" the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, a nighttime Kilimanjaro Safaris Adventure, exclusive Rivers of Light viewing, two hours of exclusive evening access at Toy Story Land, and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. The deal must be booked by August 19. The full details are on this page of DisneyWorld.com or you can call (407)939-5268 and ask about the "Ultimate Disney Fall Into Magic Package." |
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Travel Discounts for Annual Passholders |
Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus, and Premier Passholders should have been "on the lookout for an event invitation with registration details in email" for "exclusive" access to Toy Story Land at specific times on select dates in September. Eligible passholders that wanted to attend needed to have followed the email instructions to register for an event date and time in advance and, if they would like to register a guest, that guest also must have a Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus, or Premier annual pass and be listed on the Friends & Family list sharing "All My Plans" in My Disney Experience. Attending the event will require the valid pass and a matching photo ID, but there will be no additional charge. The email was sent on July 11, and, by that evening, registration had filled to capacity. For the most up-to-date list of locations offering dining discounts to Annual Passholders, visit this page of DisneyWorld.com. Many dining locations offer Passholders 10 percent discounts during some or all meal periods (also excluding alcoholic beverages, tax and gratuity). The latest information on this page of DisneyWorld.com lists discounts at many merchandise locations across Walt Disney World Resort, including locations that continue to offer 20 percent discounts off regularly priced merchandise. The latest information on this page of DisneyWorld.com lists discounts for special events and tours at locations around Walt Disney World Resort. The latest information on this page of DisneyWorld.com lists discounts for sports, recreation, and spas around Walt Disney World Resort. Magic Strollers, "a Disney featured stroller provider," offers a $5 discount on stroller rental when staying at a Disney Resort Hotel and using coupon code WDWAP18 to arrange your rental. It is listed on the "Passholders Extras" page of the Passholder website. Visit the DisneyWorld.com Special Offers page (filtered for Passholders) and log in with a My Disney Experience account linked to your Annual Pass for information, or call (407) 939-4232 to book by phone. Additional information about available "Passholder Extras" are available here, including specially priced 1-Day Water Park Tickets for $49 plus tax (must be purchased in-person at the water parks and not available online; must be used on or before December 31, 2019), a new $35 Sunrise 9 golf offer (including nine holes of golf, a hot breakfast and two beverages between 7:00 and 8:30 a.m., subject to availability, at Disney Golf courses), a new $29 Sunset 9 golf offer (including nine holes of golf, a light snack and a beer or soft drink, subject to availability in the late afternoon at Disney Golf courses), an Orlando Magic Jersey Offer for purchasing or renewing an Annual Pass at Amway Center in Orlando, a 15 percent discount on the Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour at Disney's Animal Kingdom, Spa & Salon Discounts around Walt Disney World Resort, Amphicar Tour discounts at Disney Springs, runDisney Early Registration discounts, Best Friends Pat Care discounts, Children's Activity Centers discounts, and more. Away from the Resort, Passholders can use code DANCEPARTY to get 20 percent off of tickets to the new Disney Junior Dance Party on Tour in Jacksonville, Melbourne, Clearwater, and Sarasota Florida, for house seats while supplies last. Visit disneyjuniortour.com for more information and tickets. If you know of an offer we haven't listed, please drop us an email with the details. |
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Discounts for Disney Rewards VISA Credit Card Holders |
To conserve space, we have eliminated some of the participating location details of the Disney Visa Rewards offers from this section. Visit Disney Visa Rewards website for the latest participating location information. 20 percent off Joffrey's coffee/tea kiosks Disney Visa cardholders receive 20 percent off their entire purchase at Joffrey's coffee/tea kiosks throughout Walt Disney World, including Tea Traders Café by Joffrey's, and online at Joffreys.com with code: VISABEANS 15 percent off select guided tours Disney Visa cardholders receive 15 percent off the non-discounted price of selected guided tours for up to 10 people. The cardholder must participate in the tour, and pay with a Disney's Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card. Discounts are not available on Premium VIP tours, programs exclusive to groups, or group team building programs. 10 percent off select restaurants Disney Visa cardholders receive 10 percent off the check when you pay with a Disney's Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card (be sure to request the discount). Offer excludes alcoholic beverages, merchandise, tobacco, room service, holiday buffets, tax and gratuity. Discount does not apply to the following dates: 12/31/17, 1/1/18, 2/14/18, 4/1/18, 5/13/18 and 7/4/18, and may not be available at all meal times. Visit this page of disneyrewards.com for the latest list of restaurants and restrictions. 10 percent off merchandise Disney Visa cardholders receive 10 percent off at participating Disney-owned retail location when you spend a minimum of $50 and pay with a Disney's Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card (be sure to request the discount). Read all of the restrictions on the this page of disneyrewards.com. Cardholders also receive 10% off select merchandise purchases of $50 or more at the following Walt Disney World Resort Operating Participant merchandise locations including Basin, Basin White, Chapel Hats, Good Fortune Gifts and House of Good Fortune, kidsHeritage, Luxury of Time, Marrakesh Emporium Arts & Crafts, Joffrey's coffee/tea kiosks and Tea Traders Café by Joffrey's, Sperry and Volcom. 15 percent off all Disney spa and salon services Disney Visa cardholders receive 15 percent off the non-discounted price of any salon treatment valued at $45 or greater or any 50-minute or longer spa service most days at the spas and salons at Walt Disney World Resort. Visit this page of disneyrewards.com for participating locations and restrictions. 10 percent off select recreation experiences Disney Visa cardholders receive 15 percent off the non-discounted price of the recreation experiences listed below:
Free character photos at a private meet and greet location at Epcot Present your Disney's Premier Visa Card or Disney Rewards Visa Card for access to a private character meet-and-greet at Epcot for the cardholder and up to five guests. The event is hosted daily from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Imagination Pavilion at Epcot (enter near the jumping fountains near the exit to the Magic Eye Theater). You'll receive complimentary downloads of your photos (one time per day), which may be accessed in the My Disney Experience smartphone application (or website). Free character photos at a private meet and greet location at Disney's Hollywood Studios Present your Disney's Premier Visa card or Disney Rewards Visa card for access to a private character meet-and-greet at the Star Wars Launch Bay in the Animation Courtyard at Disney's Hollywood Studios for the cardholder and up to five guests. The event is hosted daily from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You'll receive complimentary downloads of your photos (one time per day), which may be accessed in the My Disney Experience smartphone application (or website). |
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Travel Discounts for Military Personnel |
2018 Armed Forces Salute Tickets January 1 through December 19, 2018
NOTE: Tickets must be used by December 19, 2018. U.S. military personnel can also purchase the Memory Maker product for $98 through December 19. Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased at participating U.S. military sales outlets by eligible service members (as defined on Disney World.com) or their spouses (but not both), for use by themselves and only family members and friends, as provided by Disney's rules. These tickets may not be otherwise transferred, distributed or resold. Limit six (6) tickets purchased by the military personnel (or spouse), and one ticket must be used by that member of the military (or spouse). U.S. military personnel can enjoy discounts at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels when booking by December 19, 2018, for stays most nights from April 6 through December 19, 2018. Offer excludes moderate and deluxe resorts. Call (407)939-5684 for information and reservations. Read more information at militarydisneytips.com, visit your base ticket office, or when at Walt Disney World, visit Shades of Green. If you know of an offer we haven't listed, please drop us an email with the details. |
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Travel Discounts for Florida Residents |
Disney Select TicketsWhile the Discover Disney ticket offer ended on June 24, still available at a higher price (but including flexibility), Florida residents can still save quite a bit with the 4-Day Disney Select Ticket (compared to the price of a 4-Day Magic Your Way ticket). There is a smaller discount available for a 3-Day Select Ticket, and there is also a discount for 1–Day Tickets with the Park Hopper Option only. For more information visit this page of DisneyWorld.com.
Florida residents can check out the latest hotel package offers on this page of DisneyWorld.com. If you know of an offer we haven't listed, please drop us an email with the details. |
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Travel Discounts for Canada Residents |
All adults using Canadian resident tickets or passes must present valid proof of Canadian residency that includes government-issued photo ID to exchange the certificate for a valid ticket at the theme park ticket window or Guest Relations prior to first use. Tickets and options are nontransferable, nonrefundable and exclude events/activities separately priced. Admission is subject to capacity closures and to other restrictions. Check https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/ca/ for the latest offers from Disney. If you know of an offer we haven't listed, please drop us an email with the details. |
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Travel Discounts for U.K. Residents |
You can see the latest offers for U.K. residents on Disney World's U.K. packages website. It currently includes an offer for UK and Ireland guests: 2018 Disney's 14-Day Ultimate Ticket for the price of a 7-day ticket when purchased pre-departure by July 31, 2018, for arrivals up until December 31, 2018. Memory Maker is included with every 2018 Adult Ultimate Ticket purchased. If you know of an offer we haven't listed, please drop us an email with the details. |
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Comments
Thanks again Alan. You made Tuesday Lunch Great Again.
That Holiday D-Lights looks very interesting. $280 bucks though. I will continue to buy lottery tickets.
It looks like there have been a lot of changes to the Yuletide Fantasy Tour since I took it last year. We visited MK and Epcot, the holiday services warehouse and the Wilderness Lodge. We did not have the culinary or event group stops.