Month: November 2021

Boatwright’s Dining Hall to Re-Open and Storybook Dining at Artist Point Return in December

Walt Disney World has announced that Boatwright’s Dining Hall at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside will re-open to guests on December 14th.

Disney has stated that reservations for dinner at Boatwright’s Dining Hall open on December 2nd.

Returning to the menu will be the all-you-care-to-enjoy Chef’s Platter featuring ribs, Nashville hot chicken, smoked sausage, and barbecued beef brisket with mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, street corn, and green beans. Also on the menu is General Fulton’s Prime Rib or the Deep-South Shrimp and Grits, the signature Boatwright’s Jambalaya and the plant-based Boatwright’s Harvest Jambalaya.

Meanwhile over at the Wilderness Lodge, more character dining will be returning with the re-opening of Storybook Dining at Artist Point.

As part of the new Character Dining experience that is happening all over property, guests will see Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy, and The Queen stroll through the Enchanted Forest while enjoying a prix fixe dinner with the choice of individually plated entrées and shared starters and desserts.

Returning will be the Royal Prime Rib Roast and the vegetarian A Stroll Through Nature along with the “Poison” Apple dessert with dark chocolate-apple mousse.

Pricing for dinner is $60 for adults, and $39 for children. Reservations can be made from December 2nd.

Walt Disney World Pauses New Sales of All Non-Florida Resident Annual Passes

According to reports, Walt Disney World is pausing new sales of some of its annual passes.

New sales of the Pirate, Sorcerer and Incredi-Pass have been paused. The Pixie Dust (Florida residents) is the only pass that is available for new purchases.

This does not impact renewals, it only affects new purchases.

Disney has not stated when the sales of these passes will resume, but sources say that the pause will last at least through the end of the year and will resume sales sometime in 2022.

Disney Cruise Line to Require COVID-19 Vaccinations for Ages 5 and Up

Yesterday Disney Cruise Line announced that it has updated its COVID-19 vaccination requirements to include passengers age 5 and up effective January 13, 2022.

Below are the updated requirements –

Currently, Disney Cruise Line continues to require all vaccine-eligible Guests (based on US eligibility requirements) to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as defined by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at the time of sailing. This will be a requirement for all Guests (US and international) ages 5 and up for sailings beginning on or after January 13, 2022.

Guests who are not vaccine-eligible because of age must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result (paid for by the Guest) taken between 3 days and 24 hours before their sail date. Guests ages 5 through 11 may complete this testing requirement in lieu of being fully vaccinated for sailings that depart before January 13, 2022.

The test should be a NAAT test, rapid PCR test or lab-based PCR test. Rapid antigen tests are not accepted. Disney Cruise Line has secured a special rate of $98.33 per PCR test (which includes a 3.5% processing fee) through our third-party vendor, Inspire Diagnostics. Guests may also obtain their test from any independent testing supplier.

Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland to Close March 2022 for Reimagination

In an announcement made at International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo by Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Josh D’Amaro, Disneyland Resort will be closing Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland for what Disney calls “an ambitious reimagining of Mickey’s Toontown.”

The reimagined land will debut in early 2023, alongside the new attraction, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

D’Amaro said the transformation will include adding greener and more spacious land with families and young children in mind.

We are so excited to leverage Disney’s powerful brand, develop new stories and share even more magical experiences with our guests.  The newly reimagined Mickey’s Toontown will be a welcoming place where families and younger guests can connect and play together in fun new ways.

Disney  Imagineers are building on the legacy of Mickey’s Toontown and are working to create some all-new experiences so families and young children can have more opportunities to play together inside Disneyland.  Focusing on families with young children, Mickey’s Toontown will feature new play experiences, as well as open, grassy play spaces for everyone to unplug. The land will have landscaping for both spontaneous family play and parental relaxation.

According to Disney, one of the new areas coming to Mickey’s Toontown will be CenTOONial Park, the first space guests will see when they enter. This natural space will be anchored by two interactive play experiences.

When guests enter they will see at the center of CenTOONial Park a fountain, designed for play, which will also become a center icon for Mickey’s Toontown. As its base, water tables will invite guests to play with the water and have a sensory experience. At night, the fountain will be brought to life in a unique spectacle.

Nearby will be a dreaming tree that will be inspired by the tree a young Walt Disney would daydream under in his hometown. Sculpted tree roots will provide an opportunity for children to play, crawl and explore, and undulating topography will offer rolling hills and a place to sit and dream.

In addition to reopening in 2023 with the new, family-friendly and adventurous Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Mickey’s Toontown will still be home to many beloved characters including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck and more!

Mickey’s Toontown is scheduled to close in March of 2022 in order for imagineers to begin creating these all-new experiences.

Walt Disney World Celebrates Disney+ Day with Special Offerings and Early Park Entry

Walt Disney World will celebrate Disney+ Day on November 12th with early theme park entry and special offerings.

Disney+ subscribers with a valid ticket or pass and theme park reservations for the day will be able to enjoy special benefits at select Disney theme parks. Disney+ subscribers with their travel party will be able to enter all theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort 30 minutes before regular park open. If you are a Walt Disney World Resort hotel guest and Disney+ subscriber, that will mean 60 minutes early entry on November 12th.

Guests will be welcomed at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with a blue carpet experience, including special photo opportunities throughout the parks. Some of our favorite Disney+ characters are also joining the festivities with appearances around the parks and in cavalcades.

Disney+ subscribers will also receive complimentary digital downloads of select Disney PhotoPass photos. There will also be new AR lens roll outs for Disney+ Day.

In order to take participate, guests will need a valid theme park ticket and a park pass reservation. Proof of Disney+ subscription is via a logged-in Home Screen of the Disney+ app – one per party.

Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company stated –

The inaugural Disney+ Day will be a grand-scale celebration of our subscribers across the entire company.  This day of appreciation brings to life our mission to entertain, inform, and inspire fans and families around the globe through the power of unparalleled storytelling, and will become an annual tentpole event to be amplified across our global businesses.