Month: April 2022

Mickey’s Toontown News and New Restaurants and Shopping Coming to Downtown Disney

Recently Disneyland Resort announced another new look at the exciting shopping and dining coming to the west side of the Downtown Disney District. Disney recently began work on the latest transformation to introduce more innovative shopping, dining and entertainment experiences.

Drawing inspiration from Southern California mid-century modern architecture, the west-end area will become a beautiful blend of vibrant color palettes, design elements and patterns influenced by the region, and will include an open lawn for relaxation and future events, and an even broader and diverse collection of dining and shopping.

Disney will be diversifying their offerings to meet the needs of today’s guests.

The world-renowned restaurant Din Tai Fung will join the district to offer guests their soup dumplings hand crafted right on site. This family-run restaurant will bring flavorful Chinese cuisine to Downtown Disney, where guests can enjoy dishes served family style in a creative space near the new lawn pavilion.

Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytan will bring his inclusive vision of Mexican cuisine to Paseo and Centrico in the locations currently occupied by Catal & Uva Bar, brought to life by Patina Restaurant Group. The restaurant and central courtyard bar and dining area will offer guests a multi-sensory journey to the heart of Chef Gaytan’s homeland.

Disney is also working with Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen to finalize an evolution that incorporates vibrant California energy and a fresh approach to the menu, while staying true to the heart of New Orleans for this guest-favorite location.

Even more exciting news, the fan favorite Earl of Sandwich will also pop into the district in a special sandwich walk-up location, offering guests the classics they know and love for a limited time beginning later this year.

Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland park is undergoing a reimagining of its own, and will debut with new experiences and more play for guests, with a focus on families and young children, in early 2023.

Disneyland Resort’s Paradise Pier Hotel Getting Re-Themed

On Wednesday, Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock met with community leaders about upcoming plans for magical new experiences coming to the Disneyland Resort.

Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel is getting an all-new theme, new shopping and dining is coming to Downtown Disney District, Mickey’s Toontown has extra kid-friendly fun in store, and more!

Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel will soon begin a transformation to an all-new theme. The re-theming of the hotel will weave the artistry of Pixar into its comfortable, contemporary setting. Through carefully curated artwork and décor, guests will gain a new perspective on some of their favorite Pixar worlds and characters.

In the announcement Disney stated –

Guests will be welcomed into whimsical character moments, like the iconic, playful Pixar Lamp balancing atop its ball in the lobby.

Beginning later this summer, guests staying at one of the Disneyland Resort’s hotels will be able to enjoy several new and returning uniquely Disney benefits.

A walkway is currently under construction which will soon give Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel guests a convenient entrance to Disney California Adventure park.

Guests will also look forward to “Hey Disney!”  a new kind of voice assistant which works alongside Alexa on Amazon Echo devices in Disneyland Resort hotel rooms that can make stays more convenient, engaging, and enjoyable.

Something that I’m excited to see is that later this summer, guests of the Disneyland Resort hotels can look forward to the ability to send select theme park purchases back to their resort hotel.

Something else that is great to see is that Disneyland Resort is getting ready to offer early entry access return. As you may recall, this where guests staying at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels can be among the first to enter and begin enjoying select theme park attractions and experiences beginning later this summer.

Walt Disney World Removes All Mask Requirements

Walt Disney World has just announced that it has dropped all requirements for guests to wear masks when on its transportation systems. This effectively makes Walt Disney World mask-free for the first time since summer of 2020.

The new Walt Disney World mask-free policy goes into effect immediately. Even with this change in policy, Disney continues to recommend guests who are not fully vaccinated continue wearing face coverings in all indoor locations, including indoor attractions and theaters and on enclosed transportation.

Masks have been a requirement at Walt Disney World in some form or another since the parks reopened from the COVID-19 shutdown in mid-July 2020. This change in policy is another move towards normality for Walt Disney World guests

The parks have gone through various stages of masks requirements, including at all locations, indoors only, to most recently only required on enclosed transportation.

I checked Disneyland Resort’s website prior to publishing this article and their website does not indicate any change in their masking policy as of this time.

TSA Announces Mask Mandate on Planes Will Not Be Enforced Following Court Ruling

Yesterday a federal judge in Florida ruled the nationwide mask mandate for airports, planes and other public transportation is unlawful.

Shortly after Monday’s ruling was handed down, the Transportation Security Administration said it will no longer enforce the mandate.

The CDC had recently extended the mask mandate covering air travel and other public transportation to May 3rd.

U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle ruled Monday that the mandate exceeded the statutory authority of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, which issued the order. Mizelle’s ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed in July by the nonprofit Health Freedom Defense Fund.

Even though the TSA has stated that they won’t be enforcing the mask mandate, it still is not known whether the Biden administration will appeal the ruling.

Ever since the parks have re-opened following their closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney has repeatedly followed the TSA guidelines with regard to its transportation operations. Walt Disney World no longer requires masks to be worn inside its buildings but still requires masks to be worn when aboard any enclosed transportation, including the monorail system and busses. Even the recently opened Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser transportation to Disney’s Hollywood Studios requires masks to be worn when onboard.

While it remains to be seen what implication this latest ruling will have any action Disney will take in response, it is anticipated that Disney will probably be ending its mask mandate while guests are on Disney transportation. Disney has not hinted as to what they plan on doing at this time.

Disneyland Resort Unveils New Grand Finale in the ‘Main Street Electrical Parade’

As you probably recall, it was previously announced that the “Main Street Electrical Parade” and “Disneyland Forever” fireworks will be returning to Disneyland, and“World of Color” will be back for guests to enjoy at Disney California Adventure park beginning this Friday, April 22!

It’s hard to believe that the “Main Street Electrical Parade” is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Many generations of guests have been delighting in this guest-favorite spectacular for five decades.  It’s return should be a magical homecoming!  The enchantment will continue for a whole new generation of dreamers.

The “Main Street Electrical Parade” will return with an all-new, enchanted grand finale that celebrates the theme of togetherness, honoring the parade’s milestone anniversary.

Inspired by both the original design of classic “Main Street Electrical Parade” floats and Disney Legend Mary Blair’s iconic art style on “it’s a small world,” the new grand finale brings together more than a dozen Disney Animation and Pixar stories. These stories are interpreted in thousands of sparkling lights and electro-synthe-magnetic musical sound, with unique representations of beloved characters as animated dolls.

Disney created a short video with two of the show directors Jordan Peterson and Robin Trowbridge that talks about the new finale and gives us an exciting first look at the “Main Street Electrical Parade.”

I know that I’m excited for the parade’s return.  I can’t wait to see it again when I’m back visiting Disneyland in September.

Walt Disney World Announces Opening date for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind’ Rollercoaster

This morning Walt Disney World announced that the Memorial Day weekend will have opening date for Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind rollercoaster.

The new $450 million Guardians of the Galaxy-themed rollercoaster will officially have its opening on Friday, May 27th.

The Memorial Day weekend opening does not come as a surprise to many ever since a high-ranking Disney executive let the cat out of the bag via social media following a test ride last month.

Disney also released a video that will be the commercial spot for the attraction.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind’ was initially scheduled to open in Spring of 2021, before the start of Walt Disney World’s 50th-anniversary celebrations. The project was delayed due to the COVID-19 shutdown and subsequent cost-control measures that Disney imposed.  The rollercoaster will serve as Disney’s headline attraction to market for the summer and remainder of 2022.

Following the announcement, Disney has updated the attraction’s webpage to include more details and a countdown clock.

Disney has also confirmed that there will be Cast Member previews ahead of the May 27 opening of EPCOT’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.’

Cast-exclusive previews will begin in April, followed by Cast Member previews with friends and family in May.

It is expected that media previews are expected during a multi-day event in the first week of May and should be quickly followed by Club 33 members.

Disney has started emailing notices of advance previews for select groups including Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members.

With this email Disney has confirmed that ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind’ previews will be held for Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members.

It is important to note that today’s email does not provide specific dates for the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind’ passholder previews but says to “be on the lookout for a registration email soon.”

So, if you’re an annual passholder or a DVC Member…stay tuned!

 

All Walt Disney World Resorts Are Finally Open

Minnie, Mickey and Goofy joined Disney cast members at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort at Walt Disney World to commemorate the Disney Resort hotel’s March 31 re-opening.

Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort is the final resort to re-open at Walt Disney World during the phased re-opening.

This marks the first time since March of 2020 that all of Walt Disney World’s Resort hotels are open to guests.

Disney Announces Return of Pre-Pandemic “Huggable” Meet and Greets

Recently Disney announced that character meet and greets will return to pre-pandemic conditions beginning on April 18th.

Not all locations will be available immediately. The removal of physical distancing at character meet and greets will be coming to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise line, and Aulani throughout the spring and summer.

Currently, most of Walt Disney World’s character meet and greet locations have returned, but physical distancing currently remains in effect with characters located behind a barrier and guests unable to make any direct contact.

At Walt Disney World character meet and greets have been physically distance ever since the parks re-opened from the COVID-19 closure in mid-2020.

Walt Disney World Announces Dates for the 2022 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival

Yesterday Walt Disney World announced the dates for the 2022 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival at Walt Disney World.

This year’s festival will begin on July 14 and will run through November 19.  This is the same length as last year’s festival.

According to Disney there will be more than 25 Global Marketplaces located throughout EPCOT. Returning will include favorites like The Swanky Saucy Swine, Appleseed Orchard, Hops & Barley, Earth Eats hosted by Impossible and Shimmering Sips hosted by CORKCICLE.

Even though Disney has not released many details, it is known that the Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt will be returning along with Emile’s Fromage Montage.