Month: October 2020

All-Star Movies Resort Scheduled to Re-Open on February 2021

Walt Disney World has announced that its All Star Movies Resort at Walt Disney World will re-open on February 9, 2021.

The resort shutdown during the original COVID-19 closure earlier this year in March. Disney has not yet announced a re-opening date for the other All Star Resorts.

Reservations for All Star Movies are now being accepted.

The following Disney Resort hotels are now open and accepting new reservations:

  • Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  • Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
  • Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
  • Disney’s Beach Club Villas
  • Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
  • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
  • Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  • Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
  • Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
  • Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
  • Disney’s Old Key West Resort
  • Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
  • Disney’s Pop Century Resort
  • Disney’s Riviera Resort
  • Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
  • Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
  • The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

D23 Members to Get Exclusive Discount at shopDisney Through the End of October

D23 and shopDisney have announced that D23 members will receive an exclusive 20% discount at shopDisney until October 31.

At the D23 member website D23 announced –

We have some exciting news to announce to ALL of our D23 Members!

Disney store and shopDisney.com have given us an exclusive discount on all of the Disney items we love. For a limited-time only take 20 percent off of your purchase of $65.00 or more. Start your Holiday shopping early! But don’t wait… this offer is only good through Halloween.

For the discount code and other particulars, please go to D23’s website.

Disney Cruise Line Announces Date of Maiden Voyage of Newest Ship

It’s nearly two years away but Disney Cruise Line announced earlier today that the maiden voyage of its newest ship will have its maiden voyage is set for the Summer of 2022.

The Wish will weigh in at about 144,000 gross tons and include 1,250 staterooms, according to Disney. That makes it slightly larger than Disney’s current ships, the Dream and the Fantasy. It will be powered by clean-burning liquefied natural gas.

Disney has otherwise been mostly quiet about the ship’s amenities. The company showed off a rendering of a three-story, fairytale-inspired atrium. The stern will feature a picture of Rapunzel, who Disney said embodies the desire to see the world.

Winter Summerland Mini Golf to Re-Open at Walt Disney World

With the fall season beginning and the winter season on the horizon in Florida, Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf will be re-opening to guests beginning on November 6th at Walt Disney World Resort.

Winter Summerland Miniature Golf offers two uniquely themed 18-hole courses, each with their own distinct musical soundtrack. As the name implies, one course draws inspiration from the winter season, including snow castles and ice hockey rinks. The second course represents all things related to summer. Guests navigate surf boards, sand sculptures and even a melted snowman.

When Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf re-opens, Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf will close for the season on November 5th and re-open on January 31st next year.

Characters Returning to Chef Mickey’s

Walt Disney World has indicated that Mickey Mouse and friends will return to Chef Mickey’s starting on December 16th at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

Disney has also indicated that along with the return of characters,  there will be new menu items that will debut.  When the breakfast returns it will now be an all-you-care-to-eat family style breakfast instead of the previous buffet offering.

As we have seen at other Walt Disney World character meals, the characters will parade though the restaurant instead of visiting tables as they have previously done.

While Disney has not specifically mentioned it, I would expect that they will be returning the price to what it was previously when it had characters.

Reservations for Chef Mickey’s character breakfast will become available on October 17th.

It’s been years since we’ve been to Chef Mickey’s. We considered the character interaction subpar and the buffet food barely average….and it’s the noisiest meal I’ve ever experience…ever. We ate at Garden Grill and Topolino’s last month when we were visiting Walt Disney World and I actually think the way they’re doing the characters is an improvement. With this and the menu changes…if they stay….might actually get us to return.

The other thing that’s important to note….

This significantly increases the number of character breakfasts and character meals available to guests on property.  So, if you are looking for a character meal, this is really good news.

Walt Disney World Adds Three Quick Service Eating Options at Magic Kingdom, Adjusts Operating Hours of Three Eating Options at DHS

Walt Disney World has opened two more quick service options at the Magic Kingdom as the park continues it’s phased re-opening from the COVID-19 shutdown.

In Fantasyland the Friar’s Nook has re-opened along with the Advetnureland Spring Roll Cart.  Both re-opened yesterday.

In Tomorrowland, The Lunching Pad will also re-open on October 9th.

Meanwhile at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney announced new operating hours at three restaurants.  These new hours will go into effect on October 4th.

Disney will be changing the closing time for Backlot Express from 4 PM to 5 PM.

PizzeRizzo will reduce hours to 11 AM – 5 PM from the previous 11:30 AM – 6:30 PM.

Ronto Roasters will get it hours reduced to 9:30 AM – 3 PM (currently 9:30 AM – 8 PM). Ronto Wraps will still be available at Docking Bay 7 after Ronto Roasters closes each day.