Walt Disney World Resort Update for January 7-13, 2020

Walt Disney World Resort Update for January 7 - 13, 2020

 

Writer's note: Happy New Year!

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

While our West Coast readers were keeping an eye out for annual price increases over the weekend, which, as Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix reported in yesterday's Disneyland Resort Update have not appeared as yet, here on the East Coast the pricing news over the weekend was the release of the various dining-included discount plans unveiled by Walt Disney World Resort and noted in yesterday's Disney Parks Blog. Details and links to the plans are now in the Discounts section below, but, in brief, they are:

• Summer free dining plan for non-discounted 5-night/6-day packages including a room at certain hotels and a ticket with Park Hopper Option. Must be booked by January 16, 2020 (limited arrival dates).
• Summer free dining plan for kids (ages 3 to 9) for non-discounted 4-night/4-day packages including a room at certain hotels, theme park tickets, and dining plans (for all the "adults"). Must be booked by February 26, 2020 (less limited arrival dates).
• "Sun & Fun" Room Offer for saving 25% on certain hotels for most nights between April 1 through September 12, 2020. Must be booked by February 26, 2020.

For Passholders, "Save Up To 35%" offers have been published; for Florida Residents, "Save Up to 30%" offers have been published as well. Our Sponsor, Get Away Today can help you arrange your packages, or you can contact other Travel Agents or Disney.

For park tickets, as we regularly remind readers, buying them in advance usually is your best option. Make sure you confirm such things as first use date and expiration date, but, once you buy your tickets, they will be honored according to their original terms regardless of whether price hikes happen before your chosen vacation dates. And, in case you missed it last week, Florida Residents that want to visit the parks in the first half of 2020 can now purchase the new Florida Resident Discovery Disney Ticket: The 4-Day Ticket is $195/person plus tax ($49/day) and the 3-Day Ticket is $175/person plus tax ($59/day) for one park per day admission on any dates through June 30, 2020, with no block-out dates (Park Hopper and Park Hopper Plus upgrades available for extra charges and must be purchased by June 27, 2020).

News and Views

Headlines are auto-generated here

Sam Eagle Salutes All Cook-Offs But Mostly Barbecue

This week, Disney Parks Blog revealed that the new fast-casual restaurant expected to open soon in the space formerly occupied by Liberty Inn at The American Adventure pavilion in Epcot gets its name from Muppet Sam Eagle. Muppets fans know that Sam is known for his American patriotism. In recent years, guests at Magic Kingdom had a chance to see Sam play a significant role in "Muppets Present...Great Moments in American History" and guests that have seen MuppetVision 3D at Disney's Hollywood Studios (or, for some time ago at Disney California Adventure) may recall that Sam there presents "A Salute to all Nations, but Mostly America."

Muppets Present... briefly returned to Liberty Square during the last days of 2019. Its sign prominently features Sam Eagle. December 30, 2019 Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Now, Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue will be the site for "Sam's Centennial Cook-Off: A Salute to All Cook-Offs but Mostly Barbecue." The venue will serve a variety of "classic American backyard barbecue" selections from around the United States. Disney Parks Blog provided highlights of the menu back in a November post.

Muppet Sam Eagle inspires the name of the new Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue restaurant opening soon at The American Adventure pavilion in Epcot. Image ©Disney.

The sign greeting guests features Sam sporting appropriate backyard barbecue spatula and fork. A poster in the restaurant highlights the cook-off which it says is "A Competition Fit For Patriots and Pit Masters." The location will also sell exclusive Sam Eagle Regal Eagle Smokehouse merchandise. No specific opening date has been announced.

Sam Eagle Salutes All Cook-Offs but Mostly Barbecue. Image ©Disney.

Epcot Festivals News & Calendar

Festival of the Arts

Starting next Friday, January 17, and running through February 24, 2020, the Epcot International Festival of the Arts returns for its fourth annual celebration of Disney-inspired visual artists, culinary artistic creations by Walt Disney World chefs, and the performing arts, including Disney's Broadway songs and artists. This year, the new "Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine" debuts with food creations "that make you look twice and delight all your senses." Based on the description on the Festival's website, ArtfulEpcot.com, the Walk is like the Holiday's Cookie Trail, if you purchase 5 menu items from the Cuisine locations and receive stamps in your Passport, you can bring the completed Passport to Decadent Delights for a "colorful culinary prize offered exclusively at the Festival." Passport stamps do not have to be collected on the same day; the Passport may be completed at anytime before the end of the Festival. The menus for all the Festival's "Food Studios" (kiosks) are also on the Festival's website, ArtfulEpcot.com.

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. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The Painted Panda at China Pavilion is one of the Food Studios that will be part of the Festival of Arts. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The America Gardens Theatre will again host the Disney on Broadway Concerts Series, three times nightly: 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8 p.m. The performing duos scheduled to appear this year are: Kissy Simmons & Alton Fitzgerald White, Heidi Blickenstaff & Gavin Lee, Kara Lindsay & Kevin Massey, Liana Hunt & Adam Jacobs, Ashley Brown & Josh Strickland, and Syndee Winters & Michael James Scott. Each duo is scheduled to perform several times, and three evenings over the course of the Festival (January 25, February 9 and 24), two duos combine for three concerts. 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.

America Gardens Theatre is being prepared to once again host the Disney on Broadway Concert Series during the run of the Epcot International Festival of the Arts. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

At Germany pavilion, a "brand new to Epcot" performing group, Lebendig ("Alive") will take to the stage during published times January 17 through February 25. The four-piece pop/rock group performs "its contemporary interpretation of the beloved German Schlager style, including covers and originals."

Remember, that the 2020 opening of the Festival of Arts also marks the opening of the permanent new films at the Canada and The Land pavilions, along with the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along (plus the return of Impressions de France, upgraded to 4K projection), opening at the France pavilion.

"Canada Far and Wide in CircleVision 360," is scheduled to debut at Canada pavilion January 17, 2020, with narration by Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy, and a new score by Andrew Lockington. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

A new permanent sign has been installed above the theater entrance for the new 10-minute film "Awesome Planet" which is scheduled to debut January 17, 2020, inside The Land pavilion. The new show will feature in-theater effects and an original musical score by Steven Price. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Flower & Garden Festival

The longest running Epcot festival—the one that started them all back in 1994 as "a 38-day celebration of Disney-style gardens and topiaries"—the 2020 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, runs 90-days from March 4 to June 1, 2020. The 27th edition of the Festival includes the Garden Rocks Concert Series three times nightly at America Gardens Theatre, and, the list of scheduled performers so far includes both returning and new names including: Peabo Bryson, STARSHIP, Sister Hazel, Rick Springfield, Plain White T's, Don McLean, Herman's Hermits, Daughtry and Survivor. As the Festival gets closer, we expect we expect we will increasingly see the gaps in the schedule filled. The official website for the festival, FreshEpcot.com.

Garden Rocks Concert Series Dining Packages are now available. Booking a breakfast, lunch or dinner package at select Epcot restaurants provides guaranteed concert seating for a 5:30, 6:45, or 8 p.m. show.

If you are new to the Festival, you may not otherwise know that this is the one that features the most topiaries around the park. New this year will be a Remy topiary that will be unveiled as the centerpiece of Ratatouille Garden at France pavilion. The garden will include vegetables that make up the traditional ingredients of a ratatouille recipe. Remy's Ratatouille Adventure attraction opens at the pavilion during the summer, with a specific date not yet announced.

Other topiary displays that have been announced so far are the return of Anna & Elsa, Buzz Lightyear, Miss Piggy & Kermit the Frog, Tinker Bell, Snow White, and Bambi. The Goodness Garden Butterfly House will also return, as will the "Play Full Garden" where "families can celebrate spring at a unique playground experience." The Floating Gardens, Flower Towers, and more bedded blooms will be planted as well. Behind the scenes tours are available during the Festival from the no-additional-charge 20 minute English Tea Garden tour to the Spring edition of the 3 hour Gardens of the World tour ($85/person plus tax).

Like the other Festivals, Flower & Garden Festival will include food and beverage kiosks. This year, 16 "Outdoor Kitchens" and other "stops" will include three Florida-centric locations: The Honey Bee-stro, The Citrus Blossom, and Florida Fresh.

Food & Wine Festival

The 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival concluded back in November. Disney Parks Blog lists the 25th anniversary edition of the Festival among the 20 Reasons to Visit Walt Disney World Resort in 2020, but the park has not yet announced its specific dates. It is a very 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. The runDisney Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend which traditionally takes place during the Festival has been scheduled for November 5-8, 2020.

Festival of the Holidays

2019 Performances of Candlelight Processional, wrapped up on December 30, along with the park-wide Festival of the Holidays. The celebrations, no doubt, will return late in 2020, and, as in recent years, we will probably start getting specific details to share in the summer, probably with a Christmas in July media event or promotion.

The 2019 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays officially concluded December 30. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Festivals Calendar

For the convenience of our readers, the scheduled performers for this year's Disney on Broadway Concert Series are shown in our Google Calendar of Epcot Events. We have also added the announced Garden Rocks Concert Series performers announced so far for this year's Flower & Garden Festival. 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

Magic Kingdom

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Epcot

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Since most of the pyrotechnics of "Epcot Forever" are high above World Showcase Lagoon, it is possible to see quite a bit of the show, including its finale, from the plaza outside The American Adventure. On New Year's Eve, Epcot Forever was shown "early" starting at 6:30 p.m. (shown here), and again just before Midnight. Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

Lasers projected a Happy New Year message just past Midnight on January 1, 2020. Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

With Innoventions West demolition continuing the Character Spot has closed. As of January 5, the main place to meet Mickey at Epcot is now the entry to the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival at Imagination! Pavilion. Minnie meets guests at the gazebo along World Showcase Promenade. We spotted Goofy near one of the former entrances to Innoventions West. Sometimes we have also spotted these three near International Gateway. December 31, 2019 Character Spot Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Imagination Land is the new meet and greet area for Joy from "Inside Out" and is located in ImageWorks within Imagination! pavilion. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Joy from "Inside Out" now appears in Imagination! pavilion by way of "The Link" to her new meet and greet area, Imagination Land in ImageWorks. Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

On January 5, as part of the transformation of Epcot, Mouse Gear, the main merchandise location for the park, relocated from its location of the past two decades to a smaller, temporary location which most recently was the location of Innoventions East, including Colortopia. Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

The holiday floral bed behind Spaceship Earth has been planted with Figment-like purple flowers ahead of the upcoming Festival of the Arts.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney Skyliner

Disney Skyliner stations now post notices when Boarding Groups for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance have filled for the day to alert guests travelling to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

This and That…

…For those with tickets or considering getting tickets to attend Disney Villains After Hours during one of its select nights between February 7 and July 10 this year, Disney Parks Blog has published a Foodie Guide to the specialty food and beverage offerings available for sale around the park during this hard ticket event.

…Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend 2020 kicks off tomorrow, January 8, with the full Marathon coming up on Sunday, January 12. For those visiting the Resort, be mindful of the road closures and (in the descriptive words of our Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix) the Disney Dark Thirty start times of races that are often accompanied by fireworks and such. Disney Parks Blog has posted a guide to the merchandise that will be available at the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex starting Wednesday, 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. The Expo is open to all guests, and it also runs Thursday and Friday (10 a.m. until 7 p.m.) and Saturday (9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.).

…REMINDER: For a chance to dine at Space 220 Restaurant in Epcot, Patina Restaurant Group’s latest signature table-service restaurant and lounge expected to open this Winter, the non-profit Give Kids the World Village has an opportunity for you to win a package for two including roundtrip airfare to Orlando, lodging for two nights at a Walt Disney World®Resort, 2-day Theme Park Tickets with Park Hopper option and dinner for two at Space 220 at Epcot. Chances to win start at as little as $10. No purchase is necessary. To participate visit www.gktw.org/space220 to enter to win by January 15, 2020. Guests will be able to redeem the package following the opening of the restaurant and the availability of the resort. Donors help Give Kids The World provide life-changing wish trips to critically ill children and their families while getting a chance for an out-of-this-world experience. As we have mentioned many times before, Give Kids The World Village is an 84-acre, nonprofit "storybook" resort in Central Florida where critically ill children and their families are treated to weeklong, cost-free vacations, complete with accommodations, donated attraction tickets, meals, and more. For more information, visit givekidstheworld.org.

…When the Chinese Theatre at Disney's Hollywood Studios reopens with the March 4 debut of Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, those in the queue will see new Mickey & Minnie posters decorating the lobby. When we were invited for a media preview in December, these new posters appear on the video screens throughout the queue - the same screens that used to show posters for classic movies and The Great Movie Ride. The new attraction includes a brand new short, "Perfect Picnic" and the digital posters in the halls leading up to the "premiere" (the pre-show for the ride) set the scene.

Posters inspired by Mickey & Minnie cartoon shorts have been created for the lobby of Chinese Theatre at Disney's Hollywood Studios to set the scene for Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway which opens March 4. Image ©Disney.

…Elsewhere in Central Florida, LEGOLAND Florida Resort is now offering a free Preschooler Pass. When purchased by February 3, 2020, it will provide Florida Resident children ages 3 and 4 years old (at the time of purchase) unlimited admission to both LEGOLAND Florida Theme Park and Water Park with no block out dates. Children ages 2 and under continue to receive free daily admission. Get the pass at an admission ticket window with either a copy of the child's birth certificate or travel passport. For more information, visit Legoland.com/preschooler-pass.

…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 Edison

The Edison's YouTube channel is now home to a video series providing a behind the scenes look at exclusive specialty cocktails. A lead bartender from The Edison provides step-by-step mixology lessons on how to re-create some of The Edison's specialty drinks at home. We have been told to expect new additions to the channel quarterly.

Learn to make "The Last Coconut in San Juan" from The Edison's winter cocktail collection. Video courtesy The Edison.

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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

Just click the year you want to expand (or close).

2020 Resort Events

2021 Resort Events

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.

View the different areas of the Resort by scrolling horizontally and selecting the one you want to read about.

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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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