Walt Disney Travel Company vacation packages, and ticket-only purchases, for arrivals Sept. 27 through Dec. 31, 2021 at the Walt Disney World Resort are now available to book. This includes Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration date, so don’t delay booking your vacation!
Disney shares:
As we are still in a phased reopening, there are some Disney Resort hotels that are not, as of this time, open or scheduled for reopening in 2021. We will continue to evaluate the situation and reopen more hotels when the environment is right to do so. Booking a room and ticket package does not guarantee a theme park reservation, and guests will need make their park reservations for dates in 2021. You will be able to view park reservation availability on the Park Pass Calendar prior to purchasing theme park tickets or booking a package. We strongly recommend that guests book their park reservations immediately after linking their 2021 vacation package in My Disney Experience. Disney Resort hotel packages with dining plans remain unavailable at this time.”
On October 27, Walt Disney World laid off several entertainers from its highest-profile shows to characters that strolled the parks for entertainment. Today, Disney has released a statement regarding an update on entertainment.
Walt Disney World Resort offers a treasure trove of experiences for guests of all ages. We recognize that part of the magic of visiting any Disney park is seeing favorite Disney friends and discovering one-of-a-kind shows and performances. Since reopening, we’ve continued to offer modified character experiences and entertainment throughout our resort, while also taking the appropriate steps for the health and safety of our guests and cast members.
Recently, we’ve had to make some difficult decisions to reduce our workforce as the business impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic have become more long-lasting than anyone could have predicted. As a result, we’ve had to pause many live shows and entertainment experiences at our resort for longer than originally anticipated.
While it’s impossible at this time to fully replace the incredible entertainment that existed throughout our parks before the pandemic, we are offering live entertainment in new ways wherever possible, including character cavalcades in all four parks and pop-up appearances, like discovering Joy from “Inside Out” frolicking on the lawn near the Imagination! pavilion in EPCOT. Additionally, we’re featuring modified shows such as the popular “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and live musical performances like the Main Street Philharmonic in Magic Kingdom or the Discovery Island Drummers at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This extends to our seasonal offerings, with Halloween underway and the holidays right around the corner. In fact, the fan-favorite Voices of Liberty are set to make their return and join the JAMMitors and Mariachi Cobre at the American Gardens Theatre during the upcoming Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, beginning on Nov. 27.
Determining which shows can return and when is a complex process. As with the rest of our phased reopening, we will also consider the guidance of health officials and government agencies in determining when the time will be right to adjust capacity, and as soon as it is appropriate, we will start to bring additional entertainment back.
Like most of our fans, we know that our beloved entertainment cast are an incredibly special and essential part of the Disney experience. We look forward to the day when we can welcome back more live entertainment to our parks, and we will share more news about these announcements as we’re able to do so.
We are less than a week away from election day. Ads are covering social media, emails, snail mail, texts, and even any open green area around the United States. One thing it seems like everyone agrees on is asking people to get out there and vote. Disney too has launched four “VOTE” images with a little dose of Disney flair.
As shared on Disney Parks Blog Instagram, you’ll see four “VOTE” images below. Disney’s only comment on the post was “Make your voice heard.”
Mickey, Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar themed “VOTE” images.
October 27, was a hard night for several Walt Disney World Cast Members as layoffs hit several of the entertainment Cast Members that fill the Disney stages, streets, and attractions.
As shared by OrlandoSentinel: Walt Disney World laid off entertainers from its highest-profile shows Tuesday night (Oct. 27) in what some described as a “bloodbath” as the scale of the layoffs rocked the Central Florida arts community. The deluge of pink slips showed the theme park has no foreseeable plans to remount marquee attractions such as “Festival of the Lion King” or “Finding Nemo: The Musical,” both of which have been dark since COVID-19 shut the parks this spring.
Even the cast of the venerable “Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue” dinner show, which has run since 1974, wasn’t immune from the latest round of Disney dismissals. “Clare DeLune, you were a dream come true,” wrote performer Nicolette Quintero, referring to one of the “Hoop-Dee-Doo” characters. “My dream role at my dream company on one of my favorite stages,” Quintero posted on Facebook. “Today is a very hard day.”
More among those cut include performers on Main Street USA, Citizens of Hollywood at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, cast and crew of “Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor”, “Beauty and the Beast — Live on Stage”, “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular”, Green Army Men and the Jedi Training Academy.
Disney did not address the job cuts on Tuesday night. In all, it appears that Disney is laying off more than 20% of its Orlando workforce, or more than 15,500 employees.
Disney Springs has become a Foodie paradise and now there is another fantastic dining option on the way. Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew is coming to Disney Springs West Side and we couldn’t be more excited. Disney has given us a look at what we can expect when visiting the restaurant.
From a Disney Cast Member;
“We’ve shared a sneak peek at a few of the delicious donuts that will soon be baking at Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew. (I’m already planning my Instagram photos!) These beauties are over-the-top and will only add to the amazing variety of sweet spots you can find on property. Today I’m thrilled to share a rendering of the specialty food and beverage location opening soon at Disney Springs West Side.
Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew will be located adjacent to Splitsville and near the west entrance and exit of the Orange Parking Garage. The overall design of this sweet spot will have a unique spin on a classic donut shop featuring graphic pops of color, iconic signage, and a beautiful outdoor seating area in the “donut garden.” Before guests enter the venue, they may catch a glimpse of a culinary experience unfolding through the windows of the exposed kitchen where hot and fresh donuts will bake daily.
“We like to say our little oasis of indulgences is going to be where ‘Happiness is Glazed Daily,’” says Mark Gibson, co-owner of Everglazed. “The menu will be full of sweet surprises and a unique spot for guests wanting a quick treat, cold brew or nitro-infused chilled coffee.” Everglazed will specialize in hand-crafted donuts featuring mouthwatering yeast and cake donuts with an assortment of cold brew lattes and coffee cocktails and a few sweet-yet-savory sandwich bites.
“The humble donut has truly become a global phenomenon. The fried circle of dough is a simple concoction with the ability to showcase chef-inspired flavors and toppings,” says Guy Revelle, co-owner of Everglazed. “We can’t wait to offer guests at Disney Springs our robust menu of sweet delights, but you are officially warned: We spoke to your diet – and it’s taking some time off when we open our doors.”
