Disney To Retire Complimentary MagicBands

According to Disney:

As you begin planning your upcoming visits, we’re also exploring engaging ways for guests to use their mobile tech to experience the magic –particularly now as the use of phones and apps continues to evolve. In 2021, we plan to unveil an innovative new offering as part of the My Disney Experience app that will bring features of a MagicBand to your smart devices, building on the app’s existing digital key feature. With this new offering on the horizon, we will be retiring our complimentary MagicBand distribution to Disney Resort hotel guests for new reservations with arrivals beginning Jan. 1, 2021.

Disney Resort hotel guests will continue to have the option to purchase new MagicBands at a discount, and we’ll be introducing even more colors and designs featuring favorite Disney characters in the future. Guests who prefer not to purchase a discounted MagicBand will be able to use the My Disney Experience app or a Key to the World card during their visit. We will still offer MagicBands in retail locations and on shopDisney.com, and guests will be able to continue using the wearables throughout Walt Disney World Resort.

Updated List of Cancelled Events

A couple of weeks ago, the big announcement came that Walt Disney World is cancelling Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Disney H20 Glow Nights, and is offering a modified EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival called “Taste of Epcot International Food & Wine Festival”. Disney updated their website to reveal a full list of cancelled events, tours and other experiences as shared below:

Rest & Recreation:

  • Golf and FootGolf are available on a regular schedule at Walt Disney World golf courses
  • ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will remain closed during the initial reopening period
  • Miniature golf will be unavailable during the initial reopening period
  • Surfing activities—including group lessons and private sessions—will be unavailable during the initial reopening period
  • Spas, salons and Harmony Barbershop will remain closed during the initial reopening period

Unique ToursThe following unique tours are unavailable:

  • Backstage Magic
  • Behind the Seeds
  • Disney Private VIP Tours
  • Disney’s Family Magic Tour
  • Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour
  • Disney’s The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour
  • Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour
  • The UnDISCOVERed Future World
  • Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour
  • Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour
  • Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour
  • Up Close with Rhinos
  • Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour
  • World Showcase: DestiNations Discovered
  • Wild Africa Trek
  • Wild Africa Trek (Morning)

Adventures in Dining: The following dining events are unavailable:

  • Afternoon Tea at the Garden View Tea Room
  • Cake Decorating Experience at Amorette’s Patisserie
  • Circle of Flavors: Harambe at Night
  • Dine with an Animal Specialist
  • Dining with an Imagineer – Cítricos
  • Dining with an Imagineer – The Hollywood Brown Derby
  • Disney Early Morning Magic – Fantasyland
  • Epcot Forever Dining Package
  • Fantasmic! Dining Package
  • Festival of the Lion King Signature Dining Package
  • Highway in the Sky Dine Around
  • Jiko Wine Tasting
  • Rivers of Light Dining Package
  • Savor the Savanna: Evening Safari Experience
  • Sense of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • Signature Celebration at Cinderella’s Royal Table
  • Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour
  • Tiffins Talks
  • Victoria & Albert’s Chef’s Table Dinner
  • Wanyama Safari
  • Wonderland Tea Party at 1900 Park Fare

Spectacular Sweet SpotsThe following dessert parties are unavailable:

  • Fantasmic! Dessert & VIP Viewing Experience
  • Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise
  • Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace
  • Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing
  • Frozen Ever After Dessert Party
  • Pirates & Pals Fireworks Voyage
  • Rivers of Light Dessert Party
  • Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Nature ExperiencesThe following nature experiences are unavailable:

  • A Path Less Traveled Tour
  • Behind the Seeds
  • Caring for Giants
  • Dine with an Animal Specialist
  • Epcot Seas Adventures – Aqua Tour
  • Epcot Seas Adventures – DiveQuest
  • Epcot Seas Adventures – Dolphins in Depth
  • Savor the Savanna: Evening Safari Experience
  • Sense of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • Starlight Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • Up Close with Rhinos
  • Wanyama Safari
  • Wild Africa Trek
  • Wild Africa Trek (Morning)

Make-Believe & MoreThe following experiences are unavailable:

  • Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
  • Captain Hook’s Pirate Crew
  • Character Couture
  • Perfectly Princess Tea Party
  • Pirate Adventure Cruises
  • Pirates & Pals Fireworks Voyage
  • Wonderland Tea Party at 1900 Park Fare

Learn to Draw a Disney Castle with a Disney Imagineer

It’s time to let your creativity get to work! DisneyParksBlog has shared a video drawing tutorial that will teach us how to draw a Disney Castle with Amy Young, a Disney Imagineer. Grab a paper and pencil and let the magic unfold right in front of you!

Walt Disney Imagineering has many talented artists who dream up big ideas, and given Imagineering’s storied history of designing Disney castles, there’s no better icon to learn to draw from an Imagineer!

As you start the drawing process, feel free to combine some of the elements in this video with your own imagination to draw your own vision for the castle. Or stick with the steps Amy shows you. Either way, we hope you’ll channel your inner Imagineer and enjoy this step-by-step tutorial that will be fun for the whole family. 

Florida Suspends on Premises Consumption of Alcohol at Bars Statewide

We have breaking news to share that is effective immediately regarding alcohol consumption at bars in Florida.

According to the Florida DBPR Twitter account: “Effective immediately, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation is suspending on premises consumption of alcohol at bars statewide.”

Orlando Sentinel reports: “Florida regulators banned drinking alcohol at bars statewide as the state reported a record-shattering 8,942 new cases of coronavirus Friday.”

“Effective immediately, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation is suspending on premises consumption of alcohol at bars statewide,‘’ according to a tweet from Halsey Beshears, secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

The department could not be immediately reached for further details. The Department of Health reported the new case numbers at nearly the same time that Beshears sent out the tweet. The previous record for a single-day increase of 5,508 cases was reported Wednesday.

Helpful Info For Disney Parks Pass System

As of June 26, Annual Passholders can begin making Walt Disney World Resort Reservations via the Disney Parks Pass System. All other existing ticket holders can begin making reservations as of June 28. To help with the process, Disney has shared some helpful information.

As a valued resource for Disney fans and guests, we wanted to share a few helpful tips and clarifying details that you can leverage in your coverage of the Disney Park Pass system. 

Please note we will not open new availability at a pre-announced time of day. When the system opens, all Passholders will be eligible to make theme park reservations for up to three days at a time. Or, Annual Passholders staying at select Disney Resort or other select hotels with valid theme park admission will be eligible to make theme park reservations for each day of their stay(s). For example, if an Annual Passholder has three five-night reservations, they will be able to hold up to 15 theme park reservations at one time. 

Click here to watch the header video for more information on the Disney Park Pass system and how to make a theme park reservation. 

We are using virtual waiting rooms as needed to manage the high volume of guests looking to make park reservations for their upcoming visits. We anticipate many Passholders and Guests will begin making their park reservations right away, so wait times may be longer earlier in the day.

Here are a few helpful reminders for those looking to make park reservations:

  • Ensure your ticket or Annual Pass is linked to your My Disney Experience account for each member of your travel party.
  • Please be sure you are searching for available park days within the valid use period of your ticket or Annual Pass. You can view your valid use period under Tickets and Passes in My Disney Experience. All reservations are subject to availability and applicable pass blockout dates. 
  • Contact the Disney Reservation Center via phone or online chat if these tips do not resolve the issue. Please note that we are experiencing a high call and chat volume at this time.

We recognize that theme park reservations will change the way many of our Passholders prefer to enjoy their pass. With that in mind, we are offering alternative options to help Passholders manage their pass, including an additional one month extension to passes that will automatically be processed and visible in My Disney Experience accounts in October 2020. Click here for more details on DisneyWorld.com.

As a reminder, Weekday Select, Theme Park Select, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus and Premier Passholders will have the opportunity to register for a special preview at Magic Kingdom Park or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park on July 9 or 10. Email invitations with additional preview registration details will be sent out soon.