Walt Disney World Resort Update For December 10-16, 2019

Walt Disney World Resort Update for December 10 - 16, 2019

 

Writer's note: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opened on December 5 in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios. On December 4, I had the privilege of being in the park all day for the invited media preview and, indeed, I am humbled by having had the opportunity to experience the attraction several times—an opportunity that I am pretty sure will never come again. In my opinion and for just about everyone else that I know that has experienced the attraction, it lives up to the hype!

Except for the one clearly labeled video below which is our compilation of one full experience of the attraction, this Update will remain fairly spoiler free. The spoilers you may otherwise see here are what I would call "light spoilers" and provide no more detail than Disney and LucasFilm had revealed in the years, months, weeks and days leading up to the attraction's debut. Indeed, I keep repeating "attraction" and "experience" rather than ride, because Rise of the Resistance really does change the landscape of what an attraction can be at a theme park - beyond the highly-themed standby queue that is rich on detail (and the FastPass queue for if/when that gets used has more detail that most FastPass queues), the attraction consists of a briefing, a transport ride into space, a walk through the hangar bay and hallways of a stardestroyer, an interrogation chamber, and then a ride through the stardestroyer aboard a trackless vehicle that gets in and out of other vehicles, experiences a controlled drop and then a motion-simulated flight back to Batuu.

For minimal spoilers only, Disney provided invited media with an opportunity to ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance with a special mounted camera and provided a carefully edited video. Note, this was not my first ride (and I did not "act" reactions for the camera). Video ©Disney.

Yes, during the media preview day, and since its opening the next day, the highly complicated attraction has suffered some delays and downtime. There are clearly operational bugs to be worked out, but, in full disclosure, not once did my experience stop in the middle of a scene or result in evacuation (though I have heard others have experienced, at least, scene transition delays).

As the morning of the attraction's opening approached, the park announced that "Boarding Groups" would be assigned as the only way to experience the attraction. To obtain a "Boarding Group Number," each guest must enter the park and then either use the My Disney Experience app on a personal device linked to the ticket used to enter the park or visit designated cast members with mobile devices linked to the system. Every member of your traveling party needs to actually be in the park to attempt to obtain a Boarding Group Number, and, so far, reports have been that all Boarding Groups have been filled by around 8 a.m. on days the park was scheduled to open at 9 a.m. (but touchpoints and Boarding Group assignments, but not rides, began substantially earlier than park opening). Indeed, reports from a morning with Extra Magic Hours suggest that the attraction did not open until the park's regular opening time, but that Boarding Group assignments began with touchpoint opening for Extra Magic Hours. Simply stated, be sure to check out your transportation options and get to the park early if you want a chance to experience the attraction in its early days.

The good news, of course, is that with this virtual queue system in use, there are not guests standing in endless queues. The bad news, however, is that if you do not get to the park very early and get a Boarding Group, you will not have an opportunity to experience the attraction. Stay tuned for operational changes, especially as the cast get the bugs worked out and become able to run the attraction more consistently and for longer periods of time.

News and Views

Headlines are auto-generated here

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance - WOW!

The much-anticipated Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction inside Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios opened to guests Thursday, December 5. Disney describes the attraction as "[o]ne of the most ambitious, technologically advanced and immersive experiences in Disney history" that "uses multiple ride systems working together to create a seamless story on a cinematic scale." Based on our experiences during the media preview, the attraction does not disappoint those who get the opportunity to experience it!

Walt Disney World held a dedication celebration on Wednesday evening. It was available on a #DisneyParksLIVE stream that is available for replay. The Disney-produced video includes minimal light spoilers from inside the attraction.

A couple of X-Wing fighters were part of the dedication ceremony (the X-Wings were actually remote-controlled drones). Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Bob Chapek, Disney Parks Chairman, dedicated the new attraction during a brief ceremony near the attraction. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney Parks Blog has made a replay of the dedication of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance celebration, December 4, 2019, available. It contains very light spoiler captured inside the attraction. Video courtesy Disney Parks.

The gist of the story of the attraction is that the Resistance has established a base on Batuu. Guests are recruited to join the Resistance and fly off-planet for training. Along the way, the First Order intercepts the trainees and takes us aboard a Star Destroyer for interrogation, led by Kylo Ren himself. Trainees manage to escape interrogation with the help of Resistance spies aboard the Star Destroyer, and the harrowing journey through the Star Destroyer during its space battle with the Resistance, and the escape back to Batuu are the conclusion of the experience. The scope of the attraction is huge, cinematic, and punctuated with an ample amount of John Williams-composed Star Wars music. The effects immerse guests in the action at a level not previously seen (especially together in a single attraction) before.

To answer many of your questions in a non-spoiler way, Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix, Todd King, and I had a live stream show after the dedication ceremony. We discuss many more details there, and you can watch the replay at your liesure.

Of course, there is new Rise of the Resistance merchandise available too. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Also Only Light Spoiler Views

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Full Spoilers Video

This is the FULL EXPERIENCE, mixing Disney-provided video with a personal experience at the attraction and includes SPOILERS. Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

Addressing Access Questions

During the media preview, Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix attempted to answer questions about and had me gather accessibility information about the attraction. The posted warnings require that guests be at least 40 inches tall and that guests must transfer to the final ride vehicle to experience the full attraction. Cast members at the entrance can answer access questions and assist guests on a case-by-case basis. For example, it may be possible to experience the briefing, transport, hangar bay, and, perhaps, the interrogation, all without transferring to the ride vehicle.

Warnings are posted at the entrance to the attraction (on the left). As guests approach the ride vehicles, more specific information is noted on warnings about stops, drops, etc. Caption. Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

The seats on the ride vehicle are rather standard sized, with seat belts. The seats are at least as large as those found on Dinosaur at Disney's Animal Kingdom or Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland park. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Play Disney Parks Enhancements

With the opening of the attraction, the Play Disney Parks mobile app has expanded play with the Star Wars: Datapad as well. Players can choose to support either the Resistance or First Order. There are also numerous new items that can be seen with the "scanning" tool in the queue (should you be fortunate enough to get a Boarding Group to find them). The app is available from both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

Latest Details of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

Florida's version of Galaxy's Edge continues its "expansion" with the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, the 2-day, 2-night hotel/cruise-type immersive experience being built close to Disney's Hollywood Studios. In connection with opening Rise of the Resistance, Disney unveiled the latest concept art showing the "terminal" where guests will embark upon their adventure (specifically, where you check in to the hotel), and the special transport vehicle that will transport guests from the Starcruiser "in space" to the planet Batuu for a port excursion.

We have previously shared more revealed details about the Starcruiser, but the critical new information revealed this week is that it will begin operation in 2021. With that, we expect sometime in 2020 booking will open, and as that approaches, we will recap all the disclosed information about the experience.

Disney released renderings of the terminal for departures to the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser and the interior of the transport that will take guests to Batuu from the ship. Images ©Disney.

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway to Open March 4, 2020

As part of the multi-day media event for the opening of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Bob Chapek, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, announced that the new attraction inside the Chinese Theatre at Disney's Hollywood Studios will open on March 4, 2020. The attraction is the first Disney ride-through attraction that features Mickey and Minnie. We have previously shared that the Imagineering team has developed what it calls "two-and-a-half-D" technology, to provide riders with the illusion of 3-D without having to wear special glasses as they are transported around inside a brand-new Mickey and Minnie short film based on the current Disney Channel series.

Inside a screening room of the Chinese Theatre, guests will watch the new short, "A Perfect Picnic" and then enter the world of the short to ride Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway. Photo ©Disney.

Since the attraction was first announced, Disney has promised that the attraction will feature a brand new theme song as well that could get stuck in guests' heads the way classic attraction tunes have. As part of the media event last week, we were invited inside the lobby of the Chinese Theatre (which looks largely unchanged since its closing in 2017 except for the new Mickey shorts digital posters replacing the "Great Movies" posters along the walls and the elimination of the movie artifacts), and into one of the screening rooms that replaced the portion of the Great Movie Ride queue where guests saw clips of Hollywood classics that inspired the former ride. In the screening room, invited media representatives were among the first outside Disney to be shown the new short, "A Perfect Picnic" that serves as the pre-show for the new ride, and hear that theme song, "Nothing Can Stop Us Now," composed by Christoper Willis (who is the regular composer for the television series as well). I can confirm that the song is an "ear-worm," as the roomful of media were asked if they could sing back the song after just one hearing, and those in the room were able to sing the chorus without further prompting (including me).

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Nearby, the new Mickey Shorts Theater will also debut in March 2020. The interior of the theater is designed to evoke "the same wacky fun of the Disney Channel cartoon series," and it will show an original short plus have special photo opportunities. The Mickey Shorts Theater is buing built in the Echo Lake-area theater most recently used for "Path of the Jedi" which was the longtime home of "Sounds Dangerous!" (located next door to The Hyperion Theatre, home of the Frozen sing-along).

The Mickey Shorts Theater will debut in March 2020 near Echo Lake. Image ©Disney.

More Details Revealed About Space 220 Restaurant

As part of the multi-day media event for the opening of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Disney Parks and restaurant operator Patina Restaurant Group announced more details about the Space 220 signature table-service restaurant and lounge expected to open this Winter at Epcot. Billed as an expansion of the Mission: SPACE pavilion, the venue will require guests to journey aboard a special "space elevator" with viewports that provide an aerial view of Epcot while traveling into space. The journey and the restaurant are designed to give guests the feeling that they are on a scenic excursion traveling 220 miles directly above Earth's surface, docking at the Centauri Space Station suspended just beyond the orbit of Mission: SPACE. Upon arrival at the restaurant, from the space elevator guests then will be guided to their seats past the "grow zone," a spinning wall of produce that mimics Earth’s gravity and represents some of the fresh ingredients used by the culinary team.

Space 220 is being designed to "feature the celestial panorama of a space station combined with gourmet menu offerings. Visitors can expect to witness the sublime sights of passing satellites or floating astronauts while enjoying interstellar dishes during a one-of-a-kind dining experience. My Disney Experience says the menu will feature "modern American cuisine, more than 1,000 bottles of the world's finest wines, and a wide selection of craft beer."

The latest concept art released by Disney and Patina Restaurant Group shows off the space elevator and interior of the restaurant. Interestingly, the Space Elevator rendering is marked ©MARVEL, yet there have been no announcements connecting the venue to any MARVEL stories. Images ©Disney.

"I look forward to welcoming guests to Space 220, an immersive culinary journey intended to celebrate the wonders of our solar system and transport guests 220 miles above Earth's surface to experience the height of dining,” said Nick Valenti on behalf of Patina Restaurant Group and its parent company, Delaware North. Regular readers of the Update may recognize the name Patina, as it also operates Tutto Italia and Via Napoli at Italy pavilion, several Disney Springs venues including The Edison, Maria & Enzo's, and Morimoto Asia, and Naples Ristorante at Disneyland's Downtown Disney District in Anaheim.

Space 220 currently has job postings listed at its official website Space220Restaurant.com and it is hosting daily open calls for interviews at Maria & Enzo's at Disney Springs through December 20.

Epcot Festivals News & Calendar

There have been a couple of changes to the upcoming schedule for Candlelight Processional during the 2019 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, which is now underway through December 30: Chita Rivera has been replaced on the schedule by Disney on Broadway star Alton Fitzgerald White on December 11 and 12, and actress Geena Davis has taken the place of Warwick Davis for December 19 through 21. We have updated our calendar accordingly.

We also now know that the new films coming to the Canada and The Land pavilions, along with the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, will open with the Epcot International Festival of the Arts on January 17, 2020. Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360 includes a new musical score by Andrew Lockington and new narration by Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy. Awesome Planet, at The Land, will include in-theater effects and an original musical score by Steven Price. During last week's media event for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Producer Don Hahn and Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald introduced the media to the current work-in-progress version of the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, which has new narration by Angela Landsbury (Mrs. Potts), and most of the invited media I spoke with found it delightful (myself included). Impressions de France will return in rotation with the sing-along, and has been upgraded to 4K projection.

The 10-minute film "Awesome Planet" is scheduled to debut January 17, 2020, inside The Land pavilion. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Canada Far and Wide, a new CircleVision 360 film, is scheduled to debut at Canada pavilion January 17, 2020. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Festival of the Holidays

Performances of Candlelight Processional, three times nightly, continue through December 30. The performances combine a live orchestra, massed choir and celebrity narrator in the retelling of the traditional Christmas story. Gary Sinise, Pat Sajak, Steven Curtis Chapman, Edward James Olmos, Lisa Ling, Isabella Rossellini, and Marlee Matlin, all remain on the schedule as celebrity narrators this year. (Always keep an eye out for last minute changes, of course). Guaranteed seating for all performances is available by booking a breakfast, lunch, or dinner Candlelight Processional Dining Package at select Epcot eateries. Availability is limited and advance reservations are highly recommended and can be made up to 180 days prior to your visit. Bookings for Candlelight Processional Dining Packages and more information is available on EpcotHolidays.com or by calling (407)WDW-DINE.

The December 3, 2019, #DisneyParksLIVE presentation of Candlelight Processional at Epcot with Celebrity Narrator Neil Patrick Harris video replay likely will remain available for some time. Video courtesy Disney Parks.

The audience for Candlelight Processional usually fills the seating area and spills out on to the promenade, as it did for the first 2019 Candlelight Processional performance. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

For a full recap of the highlights of this year's Festival, check out the video immediately below from this year's invited media preview (plus some clips we added from past performances of Candlelight Processional we attended). Disney Parks Blog has published its Foodie Guide, with menus for the Holiday Kitchens and the return of the Holiday Cookie Stroll which gets you a complimentary "completer cookie" when you have purchased any five Cookie Stroll cookies around the park (and, yes, you can purchase five of just one official cookie) and had your Festival Passport stamped accordingly. Disney Parks Blog also provides an overview of the Festival Merchandise that, in large part, features Chip 'n' Dale.

Preview highlights of the 2019 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, including performances by Mariachi Cobre, Joyful!, Father Christmas, and Chinese Lion Dancers, plus relive a few moments of past performances of Candlelight Processional, in this recap of this year's invited media preview. See a few moments of our preview of the new Living With the Land Merry & Bright Nights boatride here too. File Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

Festival of the Arts

From January 17 to February 24, 2020, Epcot International Festival of the Arts returns and the America Gardens Theatre will again host nightly Disney on Broadway Concerts three times nightly. So far, Disney Parks Blog has revealed a partial schedule of the performing duos which include Kissy Simmons & Alton Fitzgerald White, Heidi Blickenstaff & Gavin Lee, Kara Lindsay & Kevin Massey, and Ashley Brown & Josh Strickland. More information about both the whole Festival and the shows themselves is available on ArtfulEpcot.com or by calling (407)939-5277. Booking for dining packages and workshops is also now open for the entire 2020 Festival.

Chalk artists and Living Statues will return for the 2020 Festival of the Arts. Some of the artists demonstrated their talents during the media event ahead of the opening of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Flower & Garden Festival

From March 4 to June 1, 2020, the park presents the 27th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival with its Garden Rocks Concert Series. As we move into winter, we expect we will start to see announcements about scheduled performers. The official website for the festival, FreshEpcot.com, notes that performances will again be scheduled 7 nights a week for the 2020 concert series.

Food & Wine Festival

With the 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival having just concluded, the park has not yet announced its return for 2020. It is a pretty safe bet that the hugely popular festival will return for a near 90 day run in the late summer/fall of 2020. The official website for the festival is TasteEpcot.com.

Festivals Calendar

For the convenience of our readers, all of the scheduled Celebrity Narrators for Candlelight Processional at America Gardens Theatre are shown in our Google Calendar of Epcot Events. We will have also added the announced Disney on Broadway Concert Series performers so far, and we will add Garden Rocks Concert Series performers when they are announced. You can add the entire Event calendar to any calendar that supports the iCal format (like iPhone and Mac) by copying this link and, as we get additional information and update the calendar, the calendar will update on your subscribed device as well.

While our Google Calendar of Epcot Events lists announced performers, it is still 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 any last minute changes. The calendar is provided as a courtesy "as is, where is" without any guarantees. 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

Preview of Magic Kingdom ride vehicle

During the media event for the opening of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Disney Parks showed off sample ride vehicles for the TRON Lightcycle Run attraction expected to open at Magic Kingdom in time for the park's 50th anniversary in 2021. Personally, I found the "seat" very uncomfortable. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Epcot

The JAMMitors may be spotted performing near the holiday Mickey floral bed behind Spaceship Earth rather than Future World East due to construction related to the park's transformation. Photo by Alan S Dalinka.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

The new park logo has been unveiled above the security screening entrances to the park. The lettering spelling out Disney's Hollywood Studios above the touch points at the park gate were not removed as of this past week and we do not expect that they will be. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Though this week's focus at the park was Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, holiday decor fills the rest of the park. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

This and That…

…The next new destination aboard Star Tours-The Adventures Continue at Disney's Hollywood Studios (and Disneyland and other Disney Parks) debuts on December 20 and celebrates that day's opening of the final chapter of the Star Wars Saga, Episode 9, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Disney will be inviting us to the screening and to see the newest update to the attraction, and we will cover both on Social Media and in a future Update.

"Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," the final installment of the Star Wars Saga opens December 20 at Disney Springs and at theaters around the country (and other countries, but check your local listings). Photo by Alan S. Dalinka

…For those that want the latest Star Wars merchandise for themselves or to give as gifts, the official StarWars.com website has published its 2019 Gift Guide which includes everything from subtle, with special Death Star detailed Adidas shoes and a Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Edition set of Bose QuietComfort 35 wireless headphones, to a Brother sewing machine equipped with special Star Wars embroidery settings, ugly Christmas sweaters (or do you say "Sithmas") with some old school Empire looks, and more.

…Among the myriad of Epcot announcements last week, Disney revealed that Disney's DuckTales World Showcase Adventure will be the next iteration of the in-park interactive scavenger hunt. The game will appear in the Play Disney Parks app at some unspecified time, probably in the not too-distant future, and will feature Scrooge McDuck, Donald, Huey, Dewey and Louie, Launchpad and Webby, and, according to Disney Parks blog, "maybe even a few thieves, villains and supernatural guardians of ancient artifacts."

…Disney provided a first look inside Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, the new attraction coming to France pavilion at Epcot in Summer 2020.

Guests are shrunk down to the size of a rat as they explore the world of Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, opening next summer at Epcot. Photo ©Disney.

…Disney also released a new artist rendition of the new Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue under construction at The American Adventure. The new venue is expected to open this winter, and a large smoker will be located in the center of the adjacent outdoor bar and seating area.

The former Liberty Inn at The American Adventure is being transformed into Regal Eagle Smokehouse, expected to open this winter. Photo ©Disney.

…Also among the latest announcements for Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney released a new piece of concept art for the Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant being added to a new area in Toy Story Land in 2020. Disney Parks blog says the new image "emphasizes the theme of the new dining locale constructed from Andy's favorite larger-than-life playsets and games."

Like the rest of Toy Story Land, the new Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant is built from Andy's toys for toy-sized guests. Photo ©Disney.

…ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is currently hosting the Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer & Dance Championships for the 23rd consecutive year. The youth football, cheer and dance team competitions continue through December 14, and spectator admission is required. Visit the event microsite.

…Walt Disney World Golf pro shops now have limited edition golf course logo head covers on a solid white background with Walt Disney World Golf stylized lettering on a red background on the other side. The driver head covers are $59.95 each plus tax. The pro shops are now offering Gift Cards with bonuses:

• Buy a $100 card, get an additional $10 in value
• Buy a $200 card, get an additional $30 in value
• Buy a $300 card, get an additional $60 in value

The Gift Cards can be used toward rounds of golf, pro shop purchases, and instructional programming. More information is also available from the main reservation line: (407) WDW-GOLF.

…Disney Parks Blog provided a first look at two new mosaic murals that decorate a walkway tunnel at Disney's Riviera Resort. This past week, some cast members reported having "test" stays at the resort and it undergoes its final preparations for opening. REMINDER: Disney's Riviera Resort, the newest Disney Vacation Club Property, is scheduled to open to guests on December 16, 2019. We have been invited to attend the dedication ceremony that morning and will bring you highlights on social media and in next week's Update. In the meantime, if you want a look at some of the cast costumes which, like Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, gives some "mix and match" options for individual flexibility and differentiation, Disney Parks Blog shared one this week.

…REMINDER: Disney-owned ABC and Disney Channel will again show Disney Parks Holiday Specials this year. The first aired on Thanksgiving and may still be available on the ABC app for those with a TV provider that allows you to log in and view content there.

• Next on the schedule is "Disney Channel Holiday Party @ Walt Disney World," premiering Friday, December 13 (8-8:30 p.m. EST) on Disney Channel and the DisneyNOW app.
• As part of the annual tradition, the "Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade" airs Christmas morning, Wednesday, December 25 (10 a.m. to noon EST, 9-11 a.m. CST/MST/PST, though air times may vary, so check listings for ABC and on the ABC app).

…The latest Disney merchandise color collection "Belle of the Ball Bronze" is now available around the Resort and elsewhere&hellp;

…More awards rolled in last week for some of Disney's travel offerings beyond the Resorts. Both Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney were named "Best for Families" in Cruise Critic's Editors' Picks Awards in the ocean and river categories for the fourth year in a row.

…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.

Disney Springs News & Views

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 (including those immediately under this paragraph). Some items are repeated week to week until they occur, while other items NEW to the Update are marked accordingly. For even more of the latest news around Disney Springs, follow its official Twitter Feed: @DisneySprings.

…The Disney Springs Holiday Gift Guide is online and includes special offers available throughout the holiday shopping season.

NEW Views Around Disney Springs

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

NEW Holidays at Amorette's Patisserie

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

NEW Jock Lindsey's Holidays Bar (Hangar Bar)

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Wine Bar George

NEW Purchase a Wine Bar George gift card and for every $100 spent, receive a $10 bonus card to gift or keep for yourself valid through December 31 for in-restaurant purchases.

Wine Bar George is decorated for the holidays. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka

Jaleo

Tonight, December 10, from 7-9 p.m., Jaleo welcomes Raquél Pérez-Cuevas from Ontañón to Disney Springs for a one-night only experience. Raquél is working to carry on the tradition of grape growing in Spain, and she will bring five of her family's award-winning wines to Jaleo for a private, seated dinner featuring a special menu from Jaleo Disney Springs Head Chef Rodolfo L. Guzman Aranda and his team to pair with the Ontañón wines from Rioja, Rueda, and Ribera del Duero, including:

• Hinojo salad of fennel, tomato, asparagus, and orange dressed with passionfruit vinaigrette
• The traditional Spanish dish Gambas al Ajillo (shrimp sautéed with garlic)
• Arroz Meloso con Bacalao (creamy rice with seafood)
• Costillas de Cordero con Miel y Romero (Josper-grilled lamb chops with rosemary sauce and honey aioli)
• Flan Mama Marisa (the classic Spanish custard with 'espuma' of Catalan cream and oranges)

Tickets are $115 per person. Visit this EventBrite webpage for more information and tickets.

Through December 15, Jaleo is holding a "Sparkling Festival" featuring a Sparkling Flight of Brut Rosé Juve y Camps NV, José Cuvée Raventos I Blanc 2015, and Izar Leku Artadi 2015 (specials also available on bottles). They are also offering a Castaway Old Cuban Sparkling Cocktail and several special bites to accompany your beverages (or to stand alone).

Jaleo has a bonus gift card offer too. See details on the sign and at the restaurant. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Pepe by José Andrés, the fast/casual counter-service restaurant connected to Jaleo, also recently has added new menu items including some dishes from Jaleo's menu, including both croquetas de pollo and flan.

Pepe's menu is posted right outside the door to the restaurant. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka

Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant

Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant will offer a dinner special for Christmas Day. Its butter- and herb-roasted turkey with garlic mashed potatoes, duck fat potato roasties, honey glazed carrots, bacon-braised Brussels sprouts, sausage-and-walnut stuffing, red wine jus and cranberry sauce will be available for order from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. during the holiday, and the complete dinner is $28.95 for adults and $14 for kids (available both inside the pub and on the patio). The regular pub menu will also be available, and from 4:30 p.m. through the wee hours, its holiday celebration includes performances by its live Irish bands and the Raglan Road Irish Dancers.

Looking further ahead to New Year's Eve, Raglan Road will ring in the new year twice that night. At both midnight Ireland time (7 p.m. Eastern) and at Midnight at the pub, Raglan will have free Champagne toasts. There is no cover charge for the celebration.

Raglan Road is decorated for Christmas.

The Edison

To kick off its Second Year Anniversary, The Edison will again host a New Year's Eve Gala of food, cocktails, and entertainment including performances by a live band, burlesque dancers, aerialists and more. The tickets (available on this page of PatinaGroup.com) are $150/person (plus tax and gratuity) include admission at 7:30 p.m. with "tray-passed" hors d'oeuvres, live-action food stations, and a wide selection of beer, wine, and premium spirits "until the Time Square ball drops at midnight" (which, of course, also happens to be midnight here in Central Florida), and a midnight champagne toast. The evening will also offer a selection of coffee and desserts, as the party continues until 2 a.m. on January 1, 2020. Additional VIP Table Packages are available as well.

Sake & Shine 3.0 - Morimoto Asia & Chef Art Smith's Homecomin'

The 3rd Annual Sake & Shine event will be co-hosted by Morimoto Asia and Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' on December 6, 2019, starting at 7 p.m. The intimate progressive dining event starts with a three-course "Pan-Asian feast complete with sake and beer pairings" on the second-story Forbidden Lounge balcony at Morimoto Asia and then moves across the walkway to Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' for a variety of desserts, including a build-your-own-Florida-strawberry shortcake bar and slices of Chef Art Smith's signature Hummingbird and Shine cakes paired with a variety of moonshine-based cocktails. Both chefs will be on-site for the event, overseeing the meal, mingling with guests, posing for photos and signing autographs. Tickets are $250/person (including tax and gratuity) and guests must be at least 21 years old to attend. Visit this page of PatinaGroup.com for more information (including the menu) and to purchase tickets.

Morimoto Asia and Homecomin' sit along the Springs of Disney Springs. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

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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

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2019 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.

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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.

As regular readers know, 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.

For more discounts and offers we know about, click the category below that 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

For Canada Residents

For U.K. Residents

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