Advertisement
Walt Disney World Resort Update for December 8-14, 2020
Writer's Note, News & Views (Combined)
The Holidays celebrations are underway around Walt Disney World Resort in the limited ways Disney has reimagined them, incorporating the health and safety protocols in place since the Resort began its phased reopening during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. I am aware of no new major announcements for the Resort this week. Remember, if you decide to visit, be sure to check the latest news about travel restrictions, and, if you are planning to visit the parks, be sure to make your Disney Park Pass date-specific reservations in addition to having your tickets before you arrive. You will be required to wear a face covering in just about all public areas (except when stationary while dining) or you will be asked to leave.
While, as I mentioned last week, I chose to remain physically distanced from Disney Springs during the busy Thanksgiving week and the Black Friday to Cyber Monday shopping weekend, this past week, I correctly guessed that late Thursday afternoon was going to be a more quiet time to visit the shopping/dining/entertainment district. I have some views to share both of the holiday decor and construction and other changes I noticed since my last visit back in October.
Disney Springs Holidays Celebrations
Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.
Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll
Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.
More Views Around Disney Springs
Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.
ICYMI: Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Continues Through Year-End
In case you missed my late-Tuesday additions to last week's Update, this section repeates the full run-down of the scaled down "Taste of" version of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays that is now scheduled to continue through December 31. Disney Parks Blog shared a full "Candlelight Processional" performance narrated by Neil Patrick Harris recorded at EPCOT in 2019 with new additional historical information provided by Becky Cline from the Walt Disney Archives (the video is embedded in the "entertainment" part of this section for your viewing pleasure). With the extension of this year's "Taste of" Festival from December 30th to the 31st, and the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, we know that the park's New Year's Eve will be celebrations will be limited. Attendance caps are all but certainly not going to be lifted just to ring in 2021, and it is not likely that the park will add a major middnight specular. Indeed, My DIsney Experience lists park hours at EPCOT on December 31 only through 10 p.m. (Magic Kingdom is scheduled only one additional hour until 11 p.m.).
Festival of the Holidays runs through December 31, 2020. Logo courtesy Disney Parks.
The 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
Holiday Decor
File Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.
World Showplace pavilion
File Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.
Character Cavalcades and Physically Distanced Appearances (No published schedule)
File 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
File Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.
With Candlelight Processional on hiatus for the 2020 season due to the park's measures to enforce physical distancing, Disney Parks Blog re-released one of the Neil Patrick Harris-narrated performances from 2019 with additional new material by Becky Cline from Walt Disney Archives. Video courtesy Disney Parks.
More Holiday Merchandise and Food
File 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)
File Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.
For even more #EPCOTHolidays, watch a Replay of MousePlanet LIVE! Fun at Home Show #30 which we presented last Wednesday night, December 2. The pre-show countdown includes video of character cavalcades and physically distanced appearances. During the show, we also discussed the recently announced membership changes coming to D23-The Official Disney Fan Club (the elimination of Gold Family and the introduction of Gold Duo).
This & That…
…Disney Parks Blog has published a 2020 Holiday Gift Guide which highlights Disney merchandise, including many parts of its family of businesses, from Marvel, to PIXAR, and Star Wars (including The Mandalorian) and beyond.
…Wine Bar George at Disney Springs is once again offering a $10 bonus gift card for each $100 gift card purchased at the restaurant through December 31.
…REMINDER: 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.
…REMINDER: 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
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.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
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.
 |
 |
 |
|
||
|
|
||
 |
|
 |
|
||
Join Our Networks
Follow @MousePlanet on...
Follow MousePlanet on Facebook:
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.
Comments
We just got back and were disappointed with the scaled down decorations. Especially at some of the resorts that are family traditions for us to visit. Also, we think it is STUPID to increase crowds at the parks and not have Fast Pass back in place.
Making everybody wait in looooonnnnnnggggg lines is a stupid way to manage Covid 19. It seems to us that Disney is really scaling back on cast members and that is one of the reasons it is hard to get into the limited amount of restaurants that are now open.
Quite a bit of difference in our visit in August and last week. And don't even get me started on the idiotic Skyliner process at Caribbean Beach. I guess Disney doesn't really need our business. It used to be such an awesome place to visit this time of year.