Disneyland Resort is reopening this week after being closed for over one year. Tonight, join Disney Parks with a special presentation of Magic Returns to Disneyland Resort Theme Parks.
From a Disney Cast Member;
Tune in for a special moment tonight as the Disneyland Resort prepares for a historic week welcoming back theme park guests after our long closure.
Join us as we go inside the gates of Disneyland park and reawaken its unique magic that our guests and cast have dearly missed over the last year. In this heartfelt presentation, Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, and Ken Potrock, president of the Disneyland Resort will share messages of optimism and gratitude to the cast members of the Disneyland Resort.
After more than a year of closure, we are pleased to provide a live glimpse of a shining symbol, reawakened: Sleeping Beauty Castle in the heart of Disneyland. It is our wish that it may represent a beacon of hope for Disney fans everywhere.
May 9 is the big day to celebrate the Mom in your life. What better way than to celebrate Mom than by visiting Walt Disney World and filling her with all of the tasty food and treats! Disney is serving up yummy cupcakes, desserts, brunches, and specialty sips created for Mother’s Day.
Creature Comforts, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park (mobile order available)
Flame Tree Barbecue, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park (mobile order available)
Restaurantosaurus, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park (mobile order available)
Mother’s Day Cupcake – Chocolate cake with strawberry ganache filling and white chocolate frosting (available Apr. 30 through June 1)
Tiffins Restaurant, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Mother’s Day Dessert – Coconut and caramelized pineapple mousse, coconut sorbet, almond crumble, pineapple gel, and cherry sauce (available May 9)
Coral Reef Restaurant, EPCOT
Raspberry and Chocolate Mousse Tart – Vanilla tart filled with raspberries and chocolate mousse topped with raspberry mousse and wrapped with chocolate rope (available May 9)
Le Cellier Steakhouse, EPCOT
Lemon Cream and Berry Charlotte – Lemon and vanilla bean cream with ladyfingers topped with fresh berries (available May 9)
Amorette’s Patisserie, Disney Springs
Dipped Strawberry Bouquet – Strawberry dipped in Guayaquil dark chocolate (available May 7-10)
Marketplace Snacks, Disney Springs
A Mother’s Day Swirl – A swirl of DOLE Whipstrawberry and chocolate soft-serve with chocolate-dipped strawberry garnish (available May 7-10)
Landscape of Flavors, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (mobile order available)
World Premiere Food Court, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort (mobile order available)
Everything Pop Shopping and Dining, Disney’s Pop Century Resort (mobile order available)
Mother’s Day Sweet Blossom Cupcake – Vanilla cupcake with marshmallow crème filling topped with strawberry buttercream, white chocolate flower blossoms, and sprinkles (available May 6-9)
Contempo Café, Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Mother’s Day Red Velvet Cupcake – Red velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing and cream cheese-buttercream icing garnished with sprinkles and a Mother’s Day chocolate plaque (available May 7-9)
Gasparilla Island Grill, Disney Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (mobile order available)
Mother’s Day Mimosa Miniature Gâteau – Champagne-infused sponge cake with orange-scented mousse topped with white chocolate slipper (available April 23-May 9)
Barefoot Pool Bar, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Tambu Lounge, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Raspberry Lemonade Cocktail – A refreshing blend of vodka and flavors of raspberry and lemon (available May 7-9)
Capt. Cooks, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Mother’s Day Butterfly Cupcake – Chocolate cupcake with raspberry mousse filling and buttercream icing (available May 7-9)
Pineapple Lanai, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Key Lime Pie Sundae – Lime soft serve, graham cracker crust, blood orange mango jam, and topped with a macaron (available May 7-9)
The Artist Palette, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort (mobile order available)
Good’s to Go, Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Mother’s Day Cupcake – Vanilla cake with a peach compote, spiced vanilla buttercream peach mousse, and a white chocolate hat (available April 24-May 9)
Roaring Fork, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (mobile order available)
Mother’s Day Cupcake – Tres leche cupcake with vanilla buttercream and a chocolate butterfly (available May 6-9)
The Market at Ale & Compass, Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort (mobile order available)
The Beach Club Marketplace, Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort (mobile order available)
Sweeter Than Roses – Creamy raspberry mousse on chocolate hazelnut cake with ruby red raspberry center and chocolate fondant decorations (available May 2-9)
Mother’s Day Bouquet Cupcake – Red velvet cupcake filled with rich chocolate mousse and decorated with an array of buttercream flowers (available May 2-9)
Join us for Mother’s Day brunch at these Walt Disney World Resort restaurants:
Olivia’s Café, Disney’s Old Key West Resort – View brunch menu and make reservations here
April 23, SpaceX launched Falcon 9 rocket with four astronauts aboard from the NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, headed for the International Space Station. Disney photographers captured the rocket soaring above Walt Disney World in the photos below!
As shared by Disney Parks Twitter: “Disney photographers captured these stunning photos of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, with Crew Dragon atop, soaring above Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park early this morning! Photo Cred: David Roark and Kent Phillips”
While NASA’s Kennedy Space Center is located roughly 60 miles from Walt Disney World, these photos make it seem like the rocket is right next door.
A unique experience is scheduled to arrive this summer for the United Kingdom! The Disney Cruise Line is offering “Staycations at Sea” for 2-, 3- and limited 4-night cruises departing on select dates from Liverpool, Southampton, Newcastle and London Tilbury. Open exclusively to UK residents, the Disney Magic is ready to invite guests on this new experience. One health and wellness point to note is that the Disney Cruise Line will require adult guests to have the COVID-19 vaccination.
As noted on the Disney Cruise Line website: “Health & Wellness: Our approach emphasizes a combination of health and safety measures. This includes COVID-19 vaccination for Guests 18 years of age and older, COVID-19 testing, health screenings, face coverings, reduced Guest capacity and physical distancing.”
Would you be willing to board the Disney Cruise Line fleet if they require the COVID-19 vaccination? We can’t help but wonder if the vaccination requirement for the UK sailings is a sign for what’s to come when Disney Cruise Line returns to the big blue for all guests. To learn more about the UK Staycations at Sea, visit the Disney Cruise Line website.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the hospitality industry hard. We were all shocked when we heard that well over 20,000 Cast Members were either furloughed or laid off from Walt Disney World. Some of those have been called back, but many still are waiting for that call. I live in the Orlando area, and one thing that has me in awe is the resiliency of so many Cast Members. Instead of being bitter, they have continued to make magic; just in other ways.
In the past year there have been many stories of Cast Members who have shown what a special breed they are. Cast Member Pantry has provided food and essential items to those who have been having a hard time putting food on their tables. Cast Member Toy Box made sure that the children of those out of work had a magical Christmas morning. Ear for Each Other is a Facebook group where those who aren’t working can offer their services. For some it’s been a side hustle, but for others it has turned into a new career. There is now another way that Cast Members can sell the items that they have lovingly created. It is Cast Co-op, which is an offshoot of Ear for Each Other.
Cast Co-op Marketplace allows different vendors to show their goods on a rotating basis. You could find baked goods, jewelry, masks, even furniture. So far about 80 different Cast Members are also vendors. Some of the Cast Members are furloughed or laid off, but others have had their hours cut. Other hospitality workers who have been affected are also eligible.
In addition to helping those in need to make money, Cast Co-op assists in other ways. There is food and other essential items available to the furloughed and laid off for free. This includes items for pets. There will also be a small number of financial grants available at some point to help with the bills. This part of Cast Co-op is run by volunteers, and people don’t have to have worked for Disney to be eligible. The entire hospitality industry is hurting, and anyone affected can apply, even if they worked for another theme park, restaurant, or hotel.
I was at Cast Co-op for the ribbon cutting ceremony. There was a feeling of excitement in the air! The indoor space has a flea market feel. Many of the vendors provide custom orders. That means that the items that you see at the booth might not be what you end up with. They are willing to customize for you so that your item will be perfect.
I spoke with several of the vendors in the Cast Co-op Marketplace. There was so much pride among them! I could see why many of them were hired by Walt Disney World to begin with. There were so many interesting projects. Many items are Disney related, but there are other items as well. Not everything was a craft. Some vendors offered home services. There were also lots of baked goods.
Cast Co-op is located at 16744 Cagan Crossing Boulevard in Clermont, Florida. That’s just a few miles away from Walt Disney World. It is currently open Sundays from noon to 5:00, and Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00-3:00. Cast Co-op is a great way for some Cast Members to be able to continue to make magic, and a way for Disney fans to make magic for these Cast Members as well. If you’d like to help or learn more information, visit the website, which is CastCo-op.com. There you can learn more information, donate, become a sponsor, or apply for help if you think you might be eligible. If you can, include a stop by the Cast Co-op Marketplace on your next trip to Central Florida. (Check the website before heading out because days and hours might change.) You could find something special that you will cherish forever, and you’ll help a Cast Member at the same time. After all, helping each other is its own kind of magic, and that’s what Disney is all about.
