Walt Disney World Resort Update for August 21-26, 2018

Walt Disney World Resort Update for August 21–26, 2018

Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Resort Events | Refurbishments and Attraction Closures | Discounts and Promotions

Writer's note: With a number of compliments received and no one reporting problems trying to view the Discounts and Promotions section enhancements last week, I have enhanced another section this week, Refurbishments and Attraction Closures, to make for less scrolling for most readers (perhaps, with a few extra clicks, but no additional pages to load for others). I appreciate the suggestion I received to add a Disney Vacation Club Members Discount category, and I will do so in coming weeks. Again, I hope you like these changes, and if you encounter an error or problem (don't like the changes or love them), I do ask that you be kind enough to take a moment to let me know by comment below or by email, including as much detail as you can about the error (including your browser and operating system too). Reader feedback helps other readers too!

In addition to the behind the scenes coding enhancements to improve readability, this week, I am also introducing a new section of the "News and Views" devoted to food and retail events Coming Soon at Disney Springs since, especially lately, we seem to have so many "This and That" entries that merit repeating at that entertainment, dining and shopping district that continues to grow.

Walt Disney World Ambassador Brandon Peters, joined by Mickey and Minnie, provide an overview of the new features of this year's Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Keep watching for some video highlights provided by Disney Parks of what to expect at the Party (and we will sum it all up in the News below). Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

Of course, if you follow @MousePlanet on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter, you, no doubt, saw that much of my Walt Disney World Resort time this week was spent attending Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic at Epcot and the media tour night at the first (and, yes, very early in the season) installment of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. This week's "News and Views" reflects that, and we have additional details we learned about Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (now incorporated in the Epcot Concert & Candlelight Processional News & Calendar section with even more Passholder-related news in the This and That). For those that do not also read MousePlanet's Disneyland Resort Updates, we have a recap of the details of the start of ticket sales for the 2019 edition of Disney D23 Expo coming to Anaheim Convention Center next summer (and, no doubt, likely including more news of what to expect around Walt Disney World Resort as its 2021 celebration of its 50th Anniversary nears).

Goofy also greeted the media tour in a special Halloween outfit. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

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News and Views

Halloween is Here | 2019 D23 Expo Tickets on sale Thursday | Epcot Concert & Candlelight Processional News & Calendar | Coming Soon at Disney Springs | Views Around the World | This and That | Crowd Forecast

Halloween is Here

As you may recall from last week's Update and/or our social media reports, Friday, August 17, was the debut of this year's hard ticket Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. The Halloween decor made its appearance in the park over the days leading up to the first Party of the year, and we were invited to a "media tour" around the event and then had some "free time" to explore the party on our own. As Disney's marketing materials say, "Halloween is Here … Let's Boo This!"

By 5 p.m. on Friday night, the Magic Kingdom parking toll plaza was crowded with Party guests arriving for the first Halloween Party of 2018. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Signs at the Magic Kingdom parking toll plaza (as well as TTC and around the park's entrance) said that the Party was sold out. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Following the "Orange Team" media tour down Main Street U.S.A. allowed a look at some of the Halloween Party balloons available this year. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The early start to the Halloween celebrating allows the park to schedule 34 nights of the Party this year before making the quick switch over to the winter decor and the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parties that run on select nights in November and December until just before that super-busy week from Christmas to New Year. Many aspects of this year's Halloween celebration are the same (or similar) as years past. The park closes to guests without Party tickets at 6 p.m.; the Party officially starts at 7 p.m. (and guests with Party tickets can start to enter the park a couple of hours before the close to "day guests.") Party guests entering the park get their wristbands and then are routed down the "back side" of Main Street U.S.A. on the west side (closest to Tomorrowland) to receive their first batch of trick-or-treat candy (including allergy-friendly stations) and head toward the Central Plaza (hub area). Party guests may wear costumes (that conform to rules including no masks covering the face). In fact, salons at Disney's Grand Floridian, Yacht and Beach Club, Wilderness Lodge, and Saratoga Springs are offering adult make-up sessions to transform guests into favorite characters from the various "universes" Disney now has in its roster (Princesses, Pixar, Star Wars and more).

Party guests are directed to the "back" of Main Street U.S.A. on the east (Tomorrowland) side to receive their first treats and to help with traffic flow as day guests exit the park. (Antique vehicles with "ghostly" attendants help too.) Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Allergy-friendly treat stations are marked by signs around the park during the Party as well. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Party lighting and smoke effects become more apparent after dark, befitting Halloween. Panoramic Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

After nightfall, the rocks around the entrance to Tomorrowland are lit for the Party. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Also back this year are the Sanderson Sisters starring in the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular show (several times during each Party) at Cinderella Castle stage. For those unfamiliar with the show, the three main characters from the film Hocus Pocus, witches from long ago that have returned from time to time, seek out spells and assistance from others from "the other side" to keep them around. Through musical numbers, the leading ladies call upon quite a few familiar Disney Villains in a show that includes a bit of pyrotechnics too. Because this year is the 25th anniversary of the release of the Hocus Pocus film, there is also a good deal of merchandise celebrating the film (more about that below).

Special "Hocus Pocus" themed t-shirts celebrate the 25th anniversary of the film's release. They are available at The Emporium on Main Street during the Party. (More details below.) Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The Sanderson Sisters summon Oogie Boogie from "Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas" during the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Mickey's Boo-to-You parade is again scheduled twice during each Party night. It mixes the classic Disney Characters with lots of Disney Villains as well as quite a few characters from the park's attractions (hitchhiking ghosts, ballroom dancers and gravediggers, for example). Weather permitting, each showing of the parade begins with the ride of the Headless Horseman (and I say weather permitting because each of the previous times I attended the Halloween Party rain did not permit that ride). The Happy HalloWishes fireworks show remains largely unchanged as well.

Mickey's Boo-Too-You Halloween Parade is scheduled twice each night of the Party. It follows the usual parade route through the park. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Ghostly ballroom dancers from The Haunted Mansion make their way along the parade route. Long-exposure Photo by Alan S. Dalinka (but perimeter launches not shown here).

The Happy HalloWishes fireworks show does not make use of the newer projection technology used in the regular presentations of Happily Ever After fireworks, but does use perimeter launch sites. Long-exposure Photo by Alan S. Dalinka (but perimeter launches not shown here).

During the Party, most of the park's attractions are open to guests. Even when a Party is completely sold out, be aware that ticket sales are capped so that attraction wait times are between somewhat and much reduced from what you would typically see in the park on a busy day. In fact, for those that want to "ride the rides," those standby wait times are further reduced by both the fact that there are no FastPass+ reservations available during the Party and by the character meet and greets that include many that are not usually available at other times of the year (several villains, Jack Skellington, the Seven Dwarfs, and lots of other characters including Moana in the queue area for The Enchanted Tiki Room). This year, the park also added the Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam, a DJ-hosted dance party with Doc McStuffins and Timon from The Lion Guard. (You can see a clip of the dance party in the video in the Writer's Note.)

As we reported in past weeks, the Party offers three Party-only enhancements this year. At Pirates of the Caribbean, live pirates interact with guests in a "not-so-scary" way. The pirates are after the same treasure as Jack Sparrow. Two of them are in the queue and "Gunpowder Pete" is found along the boat ride. (If you want to remain spoiler free, stop the video below when you are warned about "Spoilers Ahead" at about 2:15.)

The outside of Pirates of the Caribbean is specially lit for the Halloween Party. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney's Shawn Slater talks about the live "Pirates of the Caribbean" and Disney provided us with some clips of them in action (you will be warned about "Spoilers"). Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

At Mad Tea Party, new music and new light effects make the ride a different experience each time guests ride, but only during the Party. At Space Mountain, the interior of the building has been made even darker than usual during the Party, and the ride is accompanied by a new soundtrack. In fact, all of the music was newly created for the new experiences.

Disney's Lindsay Vrab discusses the enhancements to Mad Tea Party and Space Mountain for the Party. Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

During one of our Facebook Live shows during the Party, MousePlanet Disneyland contributor, Todd Pickering, joined me (by video) aboard the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover as I got my first look inside the darkened Space Mountain. Later, I rode Space Mountain and, as I imagined during the PeopleMover journey, it was quite a different experience riding it in near-total darkness (which, for those afraid of the dark might make it a "little more scary" than they make like, but, other than darkness, there are no added scares to the ride which I found very fun). Video by Alan S. Dalinka & Todd Pickering.

For the Party, of course, there is a selection of exclusive merchandise in addition to all the other Halloween-themed merchandise offered around the Resort. Disney Parks Blog gives you some of the highlights. We also got a look at quite a few of the event-exclusive items and Disney's Steven Miller gave us a brief run down on a lot of them, including several Hocus Pocus-inspired items celebrating the 25th anniversary of the film's release.

Disney's Steven Miller (who often writes for Disney Parks Blog) shows off several of the Party-exclusive pieces of merchandise available this year. Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

As we mentioned last week, if you want to see the bigger merchandise picture for Halloween, Disney Parks Blog gives you all the details of what will be available on both Coasts this Halloween season. Popcorn buckets, travel mugs, park-exclusives, Party-exclusives, and even the latest glowing cubes are described with the usual warning that they are "only available for a limited time while supplies last." On the West Coast, the premium items usually go a tad faster than they do in Florida, but a good rule of thumb for those visiting Disney Parks and Resorts at this time of the year: if you see a Halloween item that you want to buy, it may not be around next time you pass the location where you saw it. Be governed accordingly (but, please: no pushing and shoving)! Indeed, the first night's supply of Oogie Boogie popcorn buckets at the Party did sell out in just over a couple of hours.

Disney Parks Blog also has a "Foodie Guide" to the Party's special treats. We got a look at quite a few of them at the media tour and an opportunity to taste the party's signature "Not So Poison Apple" Cupcake, one of the biggest cupcakes Magic Kingdom has ever produced (and, to my taste, way too sweet for my liking).

Pastry Sous Chef Kevan Roberts makes the featured Not-So-Poison Apple Cupcakes available during the party. Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

There are quite a few special Disney PhotoPass photo opportunities around the Party too. Between the park entrance and Main Street Station, the photographer can take a Magic Shot of you and the Headless Horseman (as was also true last year). There are several Magic Shots available near The Haunted Mansion. One that I only learned about from another Disney PhotoPass Photographer was a Magic Shot including the elusive Hatbox Ghost (who has yet to appear inside The Haunted Mansion, as he has out at Disneyland).

The pumpkins at the Main Street train station "spell" out a traditional Mickey Mouse farewell message. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Visit DisneyWorld.com to purchase Party tickets in advance and see which dates may already be sold out. Purchasing in advance saves you money and lets you skip that ticket-buying step once you get to the TTC. Passholders and Disney Vacation Members should be sure to log-in to their linked My Disney Experience account to qualify for applicable discounts too! As a closing thought, do not expect that you will get to see every character meet-and-greet, ride every ride, see the parades, fireworks, and shows all in a single visit to the Party: pick your "poison" of "not-so-scary" fun experiences, because there is not time for everything. Midnight arrives sooner than you think (though there usually is one final show of Hocus Pocus when it arrives). 

2019 D23 Expo Tickets on sale Thursday

For those that have already read about it in our Disneyland Resort Update for August 20-26, 2018, by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix, this is a quick jump link to the next section. For everyone else:

The 2019 D23 Expo, the ultimate Disney fan event will be held August 23–25 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. Tickets go on sale this Thursday, August 23, giving fans a year to plan their expo experience.

Last week, D23 chief Michael Vargo announced the particulars of the 2019 expo, including ticketing information and a few special events planned for the convention.

Ticket sales begin at 10:00 a.m. (Pacific) Thursday for the VIP Sorcerer’s Package. This exclusive package is $2500 per person, and available only to gold-level D23 members. Sorcerer’s admission includes reserved seating for all panel presentations, early shopping opportunities, and a list of added benefits too numerous to detail here. Visit the D23 website for the full list of perks, and be sure to set an alarm. The Sorcerer’s Package is certain to sell out in under an hour.

One- and three-day tickets for the 2019 expo go on sale at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday. Ticket types and prices are below:

Purchase Date	D23 Gold Member Early Bird Aug 23 – Nov 20	D23 Gold Member Nov 21, '18 – Aug 23, '19	Non-Member Aug 23, '18 – Aug 23, '19
One-day Adult	$67	$79	$89
One-day Child	$49	$59	$69
Three-day Adult	$177	$219	$249
Three-day Child	$125	$164	$185

The best prices are available to D23 gold members who purchase tickets during the early bird window, and Disney is keeping that discount a bit more exclusive this year. For the 2019 expo, gold members are limited to just two discounted tickets, or up to four discounted tickets with a gold family membership.

New this year, guests who purchase tickets to the 2019 D23 Expo before December 31, 2018, can order a series of limited-release merchandise featuring the just-released expo logo, including a T-shirt, lanyard, pin, and tote bag.

Disney last week also announced that fans living outside the United States can no longer purchase, upgrade, or renew D23 memberships. No reason was given for this change, but the company says it is "currently exploring options to allow members outside the United States to sign up or re-activate their gold or gold family memberships." This is disappointing news for the hundreds of international fans who travel to the bi-annual event, and must now pay even higher admission fees.

It's natural for fans to ask what they can expect from the 2019 D23 Expo before buying tickets a year in advance. D23 was typically light on specifics, saying, "the Expo will celebrate the past, present, and future of Disney with signature entertainment, celebrity appearances, panels, presentations, sneak peeks, and immersive experiences." Fans who attended past expos know that schedule information is typically released in the month or two leading up to the event, as appearances are confirmed and presentations finalized.

Disney did announce, however, that in honor of the attraction's 50th anniversary, the D23 Expo 2019 Design Challenge will be themed to the Haunted Mansion. Creative Disney fans can enter their original artwork, sculpture, models, and more for a chance to have their work displayed during the expo. The grand prize is a cash prize of $2,300 for once exceptionally talented artist. Given the popularity of the Haunted Mansion, and the abundance of fan-created art already in the Disney community, this is likely to be one incredibly competitive contest. Visit the D23 website to see the Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired entries from the 2017 D23 Expo, including the winning design.

Back for 2019 is the popular Mousequerade costume contest, and actress-designer Ashley Eckstein was on hand at the announcement, along with her fellow judge actress Yvette Nicole Brown, to talk about returning to judge the competition. Eckstein is the creator of the Her Universe clothing line available at Disney theme parks and other retailers, and is an enthusiastic fan of the Mousequerade event. Visit the D23 website for a recap of the 2017 costumes and the $2,300 grand prize winner. While not finalists, the Tinker Bell/Thor and Ariel/Spider-Man mash-up costumes were a big favorite of the MousePlanet staff.

Other returning favorites include the 2019 Disney Legends ceremony; a daily parade on the expo show floor featuring Disney celebrities; exclusive shopping opportunities from Disney-operated retailers and licensees; displays and exhibits from Disney divisions and operating partners; a return of the popular Fan Forum featuring dealers and collectors; and a yet-to-be-announced exhibit from the Walt Disney Archives. Perhaps something featuring the Haunted Mansion? Keep watching MousePlanet for all your D23 Expo Disney updates, and we look forward to seeing you next year at D23 Expo.

Epcot Concert & Candlelight Processional News & Calendar

Since our coverage of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Preview last week, Shawn Slater, Senior Communications Manager, Disney Parks Live Entertainment provided further detail on Disney Parks Blog about entertainment around Epcot during the Festival beyond the Eat to the Beat concerts on the America Gardens Theater stage. As we mentioned last week, the Disney Du Jour Dance Party will take place on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the Festival from the Fountain View Stage in Future World - and we now know some additional details:

A different pairing of Disney characters stops by each weekend, so you could find yourself partying with Remy and Emile from Disney-Pixar’s Ratatouille, Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps from Zootopia, Lilo and Stitch or classic favorites such as Chip 'n Dale or Clarabelle Cow and Horace Horsecollar! And every Disney Du Jour Dance Party is highlighted by a special concert appearance by an up-and-coming artist from Radio Disney.

For opening weekend, the Disney Du Jour Dance Party will feature Hollywood Records' recording artist, IRL. The band just wrapped the first leg of the American Idol 2018 tour and will embark on their own headline tour, starting September 9. You can catch IRL's performance at Epcot August 31 – September 1.

On the America Gardens Theater stage, Epcot's Incredible Summer run of the Guardians of the Galaxy-Awesome Mix Live! concert series has ended. The Eat to the Beat Concert Series begins on August 30 with the start of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. It runs through Veterans Day, November 12. The just-released Mickey Monitor for Passholders revealed that, indeed, "limited dedicated seating" will be available to Passholders "on a first-come, first served basis" for concert dates in September. A new DisneyWorld.com webpage is devoted to Passholder exclusives at the Festival; it further says that wristband distribution will be at the America Gardens Theater from September 1-30, for same-day seating, while supplies last up to one hour before a performance with Pass and PhotoID. Unlike prior wristband distributions, however, the entry for this Festival says Passholders may "pick up a" wristband as opposed to multiple wristbands. We will seek clarification from Disney about the policy.

Of course, as we mentioned last week, in addition to the usual Table Service dining packages including guaranteed seating, this year, for the first time, there will also be a new Quick Service dining package option that will be available daily (no advanced reservations, but limited availability) at Liberty Inn (American Adventure pavilion) where, for $29.99/person plus tax, guests can purchase a meal (entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage) and guarantee concert seats. Candlelight Processional, the traditional retelling of the story of Christmas with celebrity narrator, live orchestra and mass choir, takes over the America Gardens Theater through December 30 (a partial listing of Candlelight Processional narrators is now available). Guests can book Table Service 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 for Eat to the Beat Concerts. Visit this page of DisneyWorld.com for Candlelight dining package information and reservations.

The Candlelight Processional will debut at Epcot this year on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, and is scheduled to run three times nightly through December 30. Pat Sajak is scheduled to return as a celebrity narrator again this year. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

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.

Coming Soon at Disney Springs

As we mentioned in the Writer's Note, we get so many news items about Disney Springs dining and retail events, many of which merit repeating for those of you that may miss a week of the Update, that we created this new section to put them all in one place. Items "NEW" to the Update are marked accordingly.

Wine Bar George

♦ NEW  This month, purchase a Wine Bar George Corkcicle for $30 and receive a free Frosé (that's a Frozen Rosé). Refills are available for $10. (Tax and gratuity not included). Check out the venue's full menu here.

Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant

♦ The new Rhythms of Raglan 2018 show is performed nightly on the Grand Room stage. Pub musicians and dancers perform in front of the video screens showcasing the beauty of Ireland in the main room. Performances range from traditional to contemporary Irish music, including what Raglan says is "Never-before-seen-and-heard" pub music and dance routines [that] spark plenty of toe-tapping and applause." The brand-new 2018 dance troupe includes: Conor Ryan of Waterford; Alan O’Donnell of Donegal; Sean Scally of Manchester; Joe Fee of Donegal; Sinead Buckley of Dublin; Ciara Wylie of Dublin; Tara Callaghan of Donegal; and Lauren Bohill of Belfast. Veteran dancer, Emma Deane, is back on stage, as well! The latest bands from Ireland on Raglan's stages are: TradGad, Strings & Things and High Road!

♦ The 7th Annual "Great Irish Hooley" Music Festival comes to Raglan Road on Labor Day Weekend, August 31 to September 3. The celebration of Irish song, dance, food and drink, and Celtic face-painting includes performances by nine Irish bands and the new Raglan Road Irish Dance Troupe beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, August 31, and continues all day Saturday through late Monday, September 3. The no cover charge, family friendly "Hooley" headliners include JigJam (Friday through Monday), Lisa Canny Band (Saturday through Monday), and Billow Wood (formerly known as Flat Out, Monday only). In addition to performances by the Raglan Road Irish Dancers, Ciaran Keating, the show choreographer, will host a workshop tracing the origins of Irish dance from jigs and reels into the present. NEW  Additional musical acts throughout the weekend will include Strings & Things, The Byrne Brothers, Reel Republic, TradGad, High Road, and Aaron O'Grady. More information at GreatIrishHooley.com and you can get more information by visiting RaglanRoad.com or calling (407)938-0300.

Great Irish Hooley headliner Lisa Canny is a 7-time All-Ireland champion on harp and banjo. She is an emerging Irish force blending pop and hip-hop with traditional Irish rhythms. NEW: She will also perform in "pop-up" shows after the Hooley through December. Photo courtesy Raglan Road.

The Edison

♦ Ticket sales are now open for "A Gatsby Evening at The Edison," a 1920s themed party on Sunday, September 2, starting at 7:30 p.m., where you are encouraged to get "all dolled up in your flapper attire" to enjoy "flairtenders serving swanky spirits, flying aerial champagne performers, flapper dancers, cigar rollers, live band, stilt walkers and more." From the description, it sounds like sample beverages and hours d'oeurvres are also included in the $75/person ticket price, but tax ($4.88), gratuity ($13.50), and the rest of The Edison's full food and beverage menu are extra.

Views Around the World

As always, the captions tell the story and include bits of news along the way.

Disney's Magic Kingdom

Another phase of the construction of the new roadway parking toll plaza flyovers for Magic Kingdom Resorts appears complete with a new traffic pattern in place and new over-road signs for cars on World Drive traveling north toward Magic Kingdom. Cars and buses traveling to Magic Kingdom Resorts, the Transportation and Ticket Center, and the Magic Kingdom bus loop (plus backstage areas) now need to keep left when approaching the parking toll plaza. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

On Main Street U.S.A., a decorative scrim now covers the construction scrim over the exterior of a portion of the Emporium (which remains open). Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

All guests visiting Magic Kingdom see the Main Street U.S.A. Halloween decor (whether or not attending a Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party). Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Epcot

Work continues on the building that will enclose the future Guardians of the Galaxy-themed attraction in the northeast corner of Epcot. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

At the southern side of the park, beyond the Morocco pavilion, construction of the building to enclose the future Ratatouille-themed attraction continues, even at night. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney Vacation Club hosted its second Epcot DVC Moonlight Magic event Wednesday night, including a DJ-hosted dance party at the Fountain View Stage. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Apropos of the name "Moonlight Magic," the Moon shone in the sky above Imagination pavilion on Wednesday night. Long Exposure Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Further to the south of the park during Wednesday's Moonlight Magic event, lightning occasionally lit the sky. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney Vacation Club presented a specially created Moonlight Magic Fireworks show which featured melodies played at Epcot shows of the past. Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

For this year's Moonlight Magic events at Epcot, registered Members and their guests received food vouchers which provided a much broader menu of choices than the hot dogs and chips served during 2017 events. While Members complimentary items were limited to one entree and one beverage, additional items remained available for purchase. (To this DVC Member, these changes improved the event; we would love to hear any other attendees thoughts.) Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Construction continues at the future Disney Skyliner station outside the International Gateway entrance to the park. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

In the Epcot Resorts Area, between Disney's BoardWalk Resort and Buena Vista Drive, construction continues on the Disney Skyliner turn station where gondolas coming from the future Disney Riviera Resort will make a nearly 90º turn toward Epcot's International Gateway. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

On the other side of Buena Vista Drive from the Disney Skyliner turn station, construction continues at the Disney Skyliner station outside the entrance of Disney's Hollywood Studios. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Also in the parking lot for Disney's Hollywood Studios, a portion of the new bus loop has opened and replaced nearly all of the existing bus stops at the park. Pedestrians walking from Epcot (and Epcot Resorts) to Disney's Hollywood Studios now are routed the entire length of the new bus loop through the former parking lot area rather than along the waterway after crossing under the Buena Vista Drive flyover. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Several new posted maps show the new locations for Disney Resort, Theme Park, and other buses along the newly opened portion of the bus loop. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Though schools are getting back into session, the "Incredible Summer" is winding down, Halloween merchandise is plentiful (and Magic Kingdom is already celebrating), weather-wise, it is still, in fact, summer in Central Florida and severe storms often still "pop-up" in the afternoon and/or evening. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The aftermath of afternoon or evening rain in the parks can be wet guests and pavement. Panoramic photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

New construction walls now block off a portion of the Chinese Theatre courtyard while installation of the new Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway attraction continues inside the building. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The SciFi Dine-in Theater Restaurant recently updated its menus according to cast members. (I had not dined at the restaurant in a number of years, but joined friends there for a very late seating this past week and was able to take this photo as one of the last diners to leave the restaurant after park closing.) Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

This and That

…As we mentioned above in the Epcot Concert & Candlelight Processional News & Calendar, DisneyWorld.com has added a new webpage devoted to Passholder exclusives at the 2018 Epcot International Food & Festival. In addition to wristbands for same-day Eat to the Beat concert seating during September, the website and the Mickey Monitor detail some of the Passholder giveaways available for attending this year's Festival. First, there is a new Chef Mickey Passholder magnet that Passholders can pick up (with their Pass and Photo ID) on their first visit to the Festival Center at the theatre across from The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar, hosted by Ghirardelli. On a Passholder's fourth visit to Epcot (tracked by entering the park with the Pass, not the Festival Center) during the Festival, they can head to the Festival Center to pick up a new Chef Mickey cutting board. Passholders get "V.I.Passholder" 8-9 a.m. access to Epcot to be "among the first to purchase the newest releases of Passholder-exclusive merchandise" and mimosas at the Festival Center (or just merchandise at Mouse Gear) on three "Thank You Thursdays" during the Festival: August 30, September 20, and October 18 (Event Registration is not required, but attractions do not open until 9 a.m.).

…Reservations are now open for booking this year's edition of the "Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!" Dessert Party at Disney's Hollywood Studios during this winter's Flurry of Fun, nightly, November 6, 2018 to January 6, 2019. An hour and a half before each night's showing of "Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!" partygoers enter the Chinese Theatre Courtyard (outdoors) to enjoy their holiday-themed snacks, desserts, adult and non-alcoholic beverages. Partygoers will also have the opportunity for a special VIP character meet and greet before being escorted to a reserved viewing area to view both "Disney Movie Magic" (projection show) and "Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!" The party is $79/adult, $45/ages 3-9 (tax and gratuity included) for all dates except December 23-January 1 when pricing is $89/adult and $49/ages 3-9. Reservations can be made online or by calling (407)WDW-DINE.

…Walt Disney World Resort celebrates Mickey Mouse’s 90th birthday from November 16-18, with special merchandise, food and beverage items, and a chance for guests to join in the celebration at Magic Kingdom during the “Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It!” Street Party, sing “Happy Birthday” along with the Dapper Dans on Main Street U.S.A., and join in a special birthday dance party at Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland. In 2019, Walt Disney World will continue celebrating Disney's limited-time, global celebration of Mickey and Minnie that Disney is calling the "World’s Biggest Mouse Party" comes to the resort and the rest of Disney Parks and Resorts (and even Disney Cruise Line) around the world. Another part of the celebration will be a museum exhibit in New York City, November 8, 2018 to February 10, 2019 (see our re-Tweet of Disney D23's announcement below).

…Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is moving into the next phase of its renovation project with a $3 million transformation of the Swan's lobby, public spaces and coffee bar ("Java Bar"). The renovated areas at the Swan will incorporate the water theme of the redesigned guest rooms and Dolphin lobby that were the culmination of the $150 million, three-year renovation of all of the resort's guest rooms, meeting spaces, and the Dolphin lobby which were completed last fall. The renovated features will include lantern lights and sconces, Bahama shutters and palm leaf designs . The Swan’s coffee bar, Java Bar, will also receive a refreshed look as part of the redesign. The multi-phase renovation is scheduled to be completed by year end, with spaces expected to remain open throughout the project.

…Walt Disney World Golf is offering special discounts for TaylorMade Golf equipment. Visit the Walt Disney World Golf Retail Stop Retail Manager, Sean Clarson, call him to make special purchasing arrangements at (407)431-0070, or contact him by email at sclarson@palmergolf.com, to try out clubs and order a whole or part of a set of clubs for "only slightly more than what Walt Disney World Golf can buy it for" which is, "on average, a 25% savings off of regular retail pricing!"

…LAST REMINDER: On August 25, Walt Disney World Resort will host the kickoff of the next nationwide bus tour for auditions for "American Idol" ahead of its second season on the Disney-owned ABC Television Network. Registration begins at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at 7 a.m., with auditions beginning at 9 a.m. (Celebrity judges will not appear, but special appearances by the most recent winner, Maddie Poppe, runner-up Caleb Lee Hutchinson, and finalist Catie Turner have been announced.) While overnight camping will not be permitted, hopeful singing contestants are encouraged to arrive early, with the parking lot opening at 4 a.m. Singers must be at least 15 years old to audition, and you may pre-register (and get a whole host of additional details) by visiting AmericanIdol.com/auditions. Those auditioning may bring one guest to accompany them, but that guest must be over age 5. Auditions will also begin on the same day in San Diego, California, where a second national bus starts rolling on the West Coast. Audition videos can also be submitted online, via Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Musical.ly using the hashtag #TheNextIdol (and, of course, following the other instructions on the audition website).

…And, for those that have not signed up to see it first-hand, next week, we will recap the next "Behind the Themes" tour benefiting Give Kids the World Village that we have been invited to attend today, Tuesday, August 21, at Bob's Space Racers, original creator of "Whac-A-Mole" and creator of games in theme parks like those in Dinoland at Disney's Animal Kingdom, Pixar Pier at Disney's California, as well as Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, and others. Give Kids The World Village provides dream vacations for critically-ill children and their families, and many Walt Disney World Resort cast members (and those of the other parks and resorts around Central Florida for that matter) volunteer their time to assist the organization in its mission.

…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.

Crowd Forecast

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	Save time and money at Walt Disney World. TouringPlans.com can help you avoid falling into the typical tourist pitfalls. Our Disney World Crowd Calendar shows you the least crowded park to visit every day of the year, customized Touring Plans save you hours in line for Disney's best rides, honest restaurant reviews, how to save on Disney tickets, the best hotel rooms to ask for, and so much more. Everything can be accessed on our site or on Lines - Mobile Wait Times App which also shows to current and estimated wait times for attractions. Below are the predicted resort-wide crowd numbers for select days generated by the TouringPlans professional statisticians as measured for the upcoming week. For the access to the full year and per-park crowd level predictions, visit our Crowd Calendar. Date Overall Tuesday, August 21, 2018  5/ 10 Wednesday, August 22, 2018  5/ 10 Thursday, August 23, 2018  5/ 10 Friday, August 24, 2018  3/ 10 Saturday, August 25, 2018  4/ 10   Check out the Disney World Park Crowd Levels page on TouringPlans.com for park-specific predictions and recommendations on which days to visit and avoid particular parks! See Disney World crowds for the next 365 days. Get Disney World wait times on your iPhone, Android or Smartphone. Do more. Wait less.

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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 After Hours at Magic Kingdom:
  • August 30, September 20; 9 p.m.– midnight
• Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom:
  • August 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 – November 6, 2018 - January 6, 2019
    • ​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.
• MouseAdventure Remix (unofficial event) – November 10
     – REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
• 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.
     – REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
• 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

• Moonlight Magic at Disney's Hollywood Studios – September 19, 26; October 3
  Registration opens for Members with resort reservations – August 30
  Registration opens for 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.

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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.

NEW ENHANCEMENT! 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 & 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.

NEW! Just click the category you want to expand (or close).

For Everyone

For Annual Passholders

For Disney Rewards VISA Credit Card Holders

For Military Personnel

For Florida Residents

For Disney Vacation Club Members (SECTION COMING SOON!)

For Canada Residents

For U.K. Residents

If you can't see the categories, please let us know by email (include which Browser and Operating System you are using)!