Month: February 2022

State Farm and Disney Parks and Resorts Agree to Multi-Year Partnership

Today State Farm and The Walt Disney Company announced a new multi-year relationship covering the Disney Parks and Resorts and Disney Advertising Sales businesses.

Starting this year, State Farm will sponsor the Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort, Good Neighbor Month celebrations in September, and the 2023 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.

State Farm will also be sponsoring two venues located at Walt Disney World Resort, State Farm Waterview Park at Disney Springs and State Farm Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

In a statement from Rand Harbert, chief agency, sales & marketing officer at State Farm –

State Farm is honored to team up with Disney on exciting new experiences and opportunities that are only made possible with a good neighbor and a little magic. Both brands strive to help people realize their dreams. Together, we’ll work to do good and spread joy in communities across the country.

State Farm will also be the presenting sponsor of the popular “Five Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend” segment of the weekly D23 Inside Disney podcast and the presenting sponsor of the upcoming Disney Parks planDisney Podcast and.

Disneyland Resort Announces Return Dates for Nighttime Spectaculars

If you recall, Disney announced last November at Destination D23 that Disneyland Resort’s nighttime spectaculars would return this spring.

Today Disney announced that on April 22, the “Main Street Electrical Parade” and “Disneyland Forever” fireworks spectacular will return to Disneyland, and “World of Color” will return to Disney California Adventure. The resort also announced that “Fantasmic!” will return to Disneyland on May 28th.

But that’s not all!

In the announcement Disney also announced that upon its return to Disneyland, the “Main Street Electrical Parade” will be celebrating its 50thanniversary.

In honor of this milestone, the Disney Live Entertainment team will introduce exciting new elements to the “Main Street Electrical Parade” that will continue to evolve this beloved spectacular.

In honor of the parade’s 50th anniversary, this nighttime spectacular will return with an all-new, enchanted grand finale that celebrates the theme of togetherness.

According to Disney, when the new grand finale passes by, guests along each side of the parade route will see different scenes from classic and contemporary favorite stories such as “Encanto,” “The Jungle Book,” “Raya and the Last Dragon,” “Aladdin,” “Coco,” “Mulan,” “Brave,” “The Princess and the Frog” and more.

“Main Street Electrical Parade” and “Disneyland Forever” will be shown for a limited time at Disneyland. When “Disneyland Forever” fireworks spectacular comes back on April 22, it will run weekends only (Friday through Sunday). “Mickey’s Mix Magic” will present its high-energy, projections-only show during the week (Monday through Thursday). In late spring, “Disneyland Forever” fireworks will then run nightly in the summer.

“World of Color” and “Fantasmic!” will return to their regular schedule upon re-opening.

While not a regular visitor to Disneyland, I go often enough that I’m excited by this announcement.  I cannot wait to see all of these in September when I’m there for the D23 Expo.

 

 

Reminder – Disneyland’s Mickey’s Toontown to Close Soon

As we previously reported, Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland will soon close in order to begin its transformation into a vibrant symphony of sights, sounds, and sensations with some all-new experiences, more play and interactivity, with a focus on families and young children.

Mickey’s Toontown will be closing on March 9, 2022, and will re-open in early 2023, alongside the new attraction, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

So, if you want to see Mickey’s Toontown one more time before the reimagining begins, be sure to visit between now and March 8!

When Mickey’s Toontown reopens in 2023, it will still be home to favorite attractions such as Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, Mickey’s House and Minnie’s House! Plus, other attractions will be reimagined in new and exciting ways, including Gadget’s Go Coaster, Goofy’s House and Donald’s Boat.

Walt Disney World Increases Prices of Multi-Day Theme Park Tickets

It’s that time of year again….Walt Disney World increasing the prices of multi-day theme park tickets.

For example, the cheapest 5 day base ticket is now $484, an increase of just over $20 from $463. On the other end of the spectrum, the 10 day ticket sees the largest price increase, from $553 to $582, a $29 rise.

Right now, one and two day tickets across all types have not seen any price changes.

Date-based pricing means that each ticket type has a range of possible pricing, all summarized below (including tax) –

Walt Disney World Base Ticket Pricing February 2022

For guests that want admission to one theme park per day for each day of their ticket.

1-3 day remain unchanged
4 day was $434.83 – $596.74, now $447.70 – $596.74
5 day was $463.56 – $630.85, now $484.52 – $646.87
6 day was $477.79 – $645.91, now $496.43 – $672.25
7 day was $492.06 – $661.56, now $511.10 – $694.96
8 day was $518.17 – $678.83, now $545.19 – $716.20
9 day was $536.00 – $691.93, now $563.46 – $738.66
10 day was $553.69 – $703.65, now $582.09 – $752.40

Walt Disney World Park Hopper Pricing February 2022

For guests that visit more than one park on the same day. 

1-2 day remain unchanged
3 day was $415.77 – $555.88, now $416.37 – $555.88
4 day was $525.35 – $687.27, now $540.89 – $687.27
5 day was $554.09 – $721.38, now $572.47 – $739.92
6 day was $568.32 – $736.44, now $586.96 – $762.77
7 day was $582.59 – $752.08, now $601.63 – $785.48
8 day was $608.69 – $769.36, now $628.04 – $810.55
9 day was $626.53 – $782.46, now $649.96 – $827.00
10 day was $644.22 – $794.17, now $671.55 – $841.86

Walt Disney World Park Hopper Plus Pricing February 2022

If guests visit more than one park on the same day, plus enjoy a certain number of visits to a water park. A 1-day ticket allows one visit, a 3-day ticket allows 3 visits and a 4-day ticket allows 4 visits.

1-2 day remain unchanged
3 day was $437.07 – $577.18, now $437.67 – $577.18
4 day was $546.65 – $708.57, now $559.53 – $708.57
5 day was $575.39 – $742.68, now $593.53 – $761.22
6 day was $589.62 – $757.74, now $612.02 – $784.07
7 day was $603.89 – $773.38, now $622.98 – $806.78
8 day was $629.99 – $790.66, now $653.57 – $828.03
9 day was $647.83 – $803.76, now $678.94 – $844.66
10 day was $665.52 – $815.47, now $698.43 – $863.16

Disney Announces Plans to Develop Residential Communities with new ‘Storyliving by Disney’

The Walt Disney Company announced earlier this week that they plan to introduce ‘Storyliving by Disney’, a new business to develop master-planned, new home communities with the attention to detail and special touches that are Disney hallmarks.

According to Disney’s announcement –

The vibrant new neighborhoods are infused with our special brand of magic. Each community will feature distinctively designed spaces, unique amenities and Disney’s brand of world-renowned service.

Disney cast members will operate the community association at each location, including some neighborhoods for residents ages 55+. Through a club membership stated Disney stated that they will also provide access to curated experiences, such as wellness programming; entertainment ranging from live performances to cooking classes; philanthropic endeavors; seminars and much more.

Where will the first community be? None other than a place that has known the footsteps of Walt Disney himself! Cotino, a Storyliving by Disney community, will be built in the heart of the Coachella Valley in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The brilliant mountain-ringed valley in the Greater Palm Spring area was once a rejuvenating retreat for Walt and Lillian Disney!

Disney Drops Mask Requirement for Fully Vaccinated Guests at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort

Disney has dropped mask requirements on February 17th  at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort for all fully vaccinated guests.

Disney will no longer require masks to be worn at it’s domestic theme parks and hotels for fully vaccinated guests, except when on transportation systems.

Disney issued a statement addressing the change on both coasts –

Beginning February 17, 2022, Face coverings will be optional for fully vaccinated Guests in both outdoor and indoor locations. We expect Guests who are not fully vaccinated to continue wearing face coverings in all indoor locations, including indoor attractions and theaters. Face coverings will still be required by all Guests (ages 2 and up) on enclosed Disney transportation, including Disney buses, monorails, and Disney Skyliner.

Even though technically the change only affects guest who are fully vaccinated, Disney has made no mention of asking for verification of vaccination status.  From a practical and historical standpoint, it’s unlikely that Disney will do so.  Prior to the re-introduction of the mask requirement at Walt Disney World, Disney didn’t ask for or check vaccination status in order to enforce the previous no-mask requirement for fully vaccinated guests.  They will likely continue this policy and operate on the “honor system” with guests.