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Walt Disney World Resort Update for December 1-7, 2020
Writer's Note, News & Views (Combined)
Hopefully, you enjoyed a safe and happy Thanksgiving, and your Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping hasn't wiped out your budget for the season! Personally, I had a Lean Cuisine Turkey entree and purchased a few electronic toys, at least one of which should find some use in connection with my reporting here on MousePlanet.
On Friday, the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays got under way, and all of Walt Disney World Resort is now celebrating the season in the scaled-down ways the Resort's phased reopening health and safety plans necessitated by the on-going COVID-19 pandemic permit. Over the weekend, posts on social media showed photos of crowds in the parks. Attendance remains capped at 35% of park maximums, and that continues to be regulated by the Disney Park Pass reservation system - remember, a date-specific reservation is required for each guest in addition to a valid ticket or annual pass. So far, my handful of visits to the parks, and most social media and mass media reports (such as this Orlando Sentinel article last week), seem to agree that the Resort's health and safety protocols are still being widely followed by guests and we have not seen published reports of COVID-19 outbreaks tied to Walt Disney World.
Walt Disney Company's Securities and Exchange Comission filings last week included notice that the company increased the reduction-in-force to the division that includes the Parks and Resorts from the previously announced 28,000 to 32,000. It is not clear which positions at Walt Disney World Resort have been eliminated. Disneyland Resort in California remains closed except for its Downtown Disney District, and, as Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix reported, last week, with the COVID-19 cases and positivity rates increasing, 40 California counties moved into the most restrictive tier of California's Blueprint for a Safer Economy plan, including all of Southern California, prohibiting indoor dining, and imposing capacity limits of 25% at retail stores. Hong Kong Disneyland announced its temporary re-closure today as well. Florida has not imposed new restrictions as of publication.
Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Continues Through Year-End
The Disney Parks Blog post noting last Friday's start of this year's scaled-down "Taste of" EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays says that the Festival runs through December 31. The original Disney Parks Blog post describing this Festival had listed its end date as December 30. Past Holidays Festivals at EPCOT concluded on December 30, with December 31 providing a New Year's Eve mix of Holidays offerings with special one-night-only offerings. The extension of this year's "Taste of" Festival through the last day of the year likely indicates that New Year's Eve will be celebrations will be limited. We do not expect the attendance caps to change just to ring in 2021, that's for sure!
Festival of the Holidays runs through December 31, 2020. Logo courtesy Disney Parks.
The previously-announced highlights of the 2020 Festival include:
- Holiday Kitchens located throughout World Showcase, including three inside World ShowPlace (enter between United Kingdom and Canada).
- Characters "dressed in their holiday best" traveling through World Showcase (no published schedule):
- "Frozen Holiday Promenade" with Anna and Elsa
- "Mickey and Friends Holiday World Tour"
- Santa Claus aboard a horse-drawn sleigh
- Voices of Liberty at America Gardens Theatre
- Mariachi Cobre celebrating Mexican holiday customs with Las Posadas
- JAMMitors play percussion at the Mill Stage at Canada
- JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season on stage in World ShowPlace
(we are aware that at other times, pianist Carol Stein performs on another stage inside World ShowPlace as well) - Holiday Cookie Stroll, with a complimentary "completer" cookie for buying the requisite cookies from five locations
(special jar available for purchase at Holiday Markets while supplies last) - "Olaf's Holiday Tradition Expedition" - a scavenger hunt to find the hidden Olafs throughout World Showcase
Updated with video and photos taken throughout December 1, 2020 (thanks to invited-media day at EPCOT).
Holiday Decor
Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.
World Showplace pavilion
Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.
Character Cavalcades and Physically Distanced Appearances (No published schedule)
Photos by Alan S. Dalinka (except as indicated).
Creative Director Tom Vazzana provides an overview of the socially distanced Holiday entertainment offered all around Walt Disney World Resort, which now includes the #EPCOTHolidays (recorded during the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays invited media event). Video by Alan S. Dalinka.
More EPCOT Holiday Entertainment
Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.
More Holiday Merchandise and Food
Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.
Several new menu items are available during the 2020 Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays (recorded during the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays invited media event). Video by Alan S. Dalinka.
Living with the Land - Merry & Bright Nights (More Holiday Decor)
Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.
For even more #EPCOTHolidays, tune in to MousePlanet LIVE! Fun at Home Show #30 for more on Wednesday night, December 2, starting at 8:30 p.m. Eastern. Find it on our Facebook, YouTube and Twitter/Periscope channels.
This & That…
…Magic Kingdom has added brief bursts of pyrotechnics to the changing of the projections at Cinderella Castle for the holiday season. There is not a fireworks show nor a schedule, and, indeed, there was not a Disney Parks Blog post or tweet about the addition, but we do have an officially-released Disney Parks photo of one of the displays (and have seen a few more).
…On ABC-TV, Disney Parks shared an updated look at Remy's Ratatouille Adventure which is now expected to open in 2021.
Just shared on @ABCNetwork, check out this behind-the-scenes look of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure where guests will rendezvous with Chef Remy through Gusteau's bustling Paris restaurant at the France Pavilion at EPCOT at @WaltDisneyWorld Resort! Coming 2021. pic.twitter.com/1yZUW0kR3G
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) November 27, 2020
…Last week's D23 presentation about the on-going transformation of EPCOT was followed by the release of concept art for the upcoming daytime fountain displays coming to World Showcase Lagoon. The fountains will be an integral part of the new nighttime spectacular Harmonious which continues to be developed for its premiere sometime in the future (originally announced for 2021, but no longer specified).
…Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group announced its emergence from Creditor Protection last week by a press release. The recapitalization transaction was certainly a necessary step toward launching the company's new show at Disney Springs that was to have debuted back in March (among the company's many other productions world-wide), but no schedule has been announced.
…Though I chose to remain physically distanced from Disney Springs during the busy Thanksgiving week and the Black Friday to Cyber Monday shopping weekend, Santa Claus has begun making his holiday appearances there by watercraft, along with Mrs. Claus. Hopefully, I will personally be able to share some views from there soon, but in the meantime, here are two Disney-supplied views.
…Patina Restaurant Group, which operates Morimoto Asia Orlando, The Edison, Maria & Enzo's Ristorante, Enzo's hideaway Tunnelbar, and Pizza Ponte at Disney Springs, is offering a $30 digital bonus card with the purchase of every $100 e-gift card purchased through December 31, 2020. Terms and Conditions, plus a full list of participating locations (which include Downtown Disney District locations but NOT EPCOT restaurants), is available on this page of its website, where you can also purchase the e-gift cards.
…Disney is highlighting its over 40 year relationship with Make-A-Wish in the My Disney Experience app this week with special videos and trivia through Friday, December 4. Sales of Wishes Come True Blue color collection merchandise continue to benefit the organization as well.
…Through December 11, Walt Disney World Golf is offering "bonus magic value" when purchasing gift cards. A $100 card gets an additional $10 in value; a $200 card gets an additional $30; and a $300 card gets an additional $60. Cards may be used toward rounds of golf, pro shop purchases, and golf instruction. For more information and to purchase, visit this page of the official Walt Disney World Golf Blog.
Give Kids the World Village's Night of a Million Lights Holiday Spectacular Runs Nightly Through January 3, 2021
Today, December 1, is #GivingTuesday: Please consider supporting Give Kids The World Village, where happiness inspires hope. During one transformative week, critically ill children and their families can enjoy precious time together and create magical memories away from hospitals, surgeries, and doctor's visits...and your generosity can make it all possible. Donate today and your donation will be matched (up to $43,500) for double the impact!
In addition, the Give Kids the World Village Night of a Million Lights Holiday Spectacular continues nightly through January 3, 2021. As we have noted in recent weeks, Walt Disney World Resort donated over 3 million lights to the non-profit resort that provides wish-granting, no-cost stays to critically ill children and their families. Because the resort had to close to wish families when the pandemic began, the organization decided to create this immersive, walk-through holiday light event to raise funds for its mission while brining the spirit of the season to visitors.
Local businesses, including several of the other Central Florida attractions, decorated 33 individual villas around the Resort. The display opened to the public on Friday, November 13. Date-specific, timed entry tickets are available on the Give Kids The World website at GKTW.org/lights. Most of the Village's wheelchair-accessible attractions are also available at no cost, including The Enchanted Carousel, Marc's Dino Putt, Kelly's Sunny Swing, and Lori's Magical Flight – all elaborately decorated for the holidays. Complimentary hot cocoa and ice cream are served throughout each evening. In addition, guests can visit the Village's most iconic venue, the Castle of Miracles – featuring a mysterious forest, a wishing well that burps, a magic tree that makes pillows, and more. The Castle is highlighted by thousands of stars that fill the ceiling and the adjoining Star Tower, each placed in honor of a wish child who has visited the Village.
Proceeds from the event support Give Kids The World's mission to provide wish vacations for critically ill children and their families. When wish-granting organizations receive a request from a critically ill child who wants to visit any of the world-class theme parks Central Florida has to offer, Give Kids The World fulfills the wish – providing each child and his/her family with a magical week-long stay at absolutely no cost. Each family receives transportation, accommodations in one of the Village's 166 storybook villas, all meals and snacks, nightly entertainment, tickets to Orlando's world-class theme parks and attractions, and priceless experiences at the Village. Since 1986, Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 176,000 families from 50 states and more than 76 countries.
File Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.
Give Kids the World Village Night of a Million Lights Holiday Spectacular is underway. During the Media Preview night, we steamed live from Give Kids the World Village. Video by Alan S. Dalinka.
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Resorts Availability, Ticket Advice & Special Offers
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.
With Disney now accepting Resort Hotel reservations for 2020 and 2021, our travel partner Get Away Today is available to help you book rooms and packages. Disney has resumed new park ticket sales, but, at present and for the foreseeable future, requires guests to use the Disney Parks Pass System to reserve dates for guest park visits in addition to having a valid admission.
Get Away Today can help you book the newly released 35% discounted Disney hotel stays for travel in early 2021! One of the HUGE benefits of booking with Get Away Today is its price monitoring that comes automatically when anyone books their Walt Disney World Resort vacation with Get Away today. Once this new rates became available, for example, they automatically applied it to all of its guests with qualifying packages. Some guests saved over $2,000 - just like that!
Here is an idea of what to expect for pricing:
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort (moderate)
November 15-20, 2020
Tickets: 2 Adults and 3 Child (ages 3-9) 4-Day Base Walt Disney World Tickets
Total cost: $3,581.97 with 'Magic is Here' Offer (regular price $3,933.53 - $351.56 savings)
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort (moderate)
Dates: January 25 - 31, 2021
Tickets: 4 adult 4-Day Base Walt Disney World Tickets
Total cost: $3,029.60 with Special Savings Offer (regular price $3,303.76 - $274.16 savings)
Disney's All-Star Movies Resort (value)
Dates: February 10-16, 2021
Tickets: 2 adult 4-Day Base Walt Disney World Tickets
Total cost: $2,018.58 with Special Savings Offer (regular price $2,217.86 - $199.28 savings)
Disney's Yacht Club Resort (deluxe)
Dates: February 10-16, 2021
Tickets: 2 adult 4-Day Base Walt Disney World Tickets
Total cost: $4,019.42 with Special Savings Offer (regular price $5,407.60 - $1,388.18 savings)
You can see more examples on its website.
When you know what price range you are thinking about, call 855-GET-AWAY during regular business hours (Monday - Friday 9am-5pm MT) and tell them MousePlanet sent you!
As always, we remind our readers that 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. Historically, 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!
You can get a vacation quote from Get Away Today here.
Checkout Get Away Today's Universal Orlando Resort ticket offers too.
Get Away Today has created a new combo package for those looking to visit both Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort. Visit this link for more information about the possible savings.
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