Members of the U.S. military can enjoy great rates at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels for stays most nights January 1, 2022 through December 16, 2022 when they book by December 16, 2022, as well as special Disney Military Salute Tickets.
2022 Military Promotional Resort Room Only reservations are available.
4-Day and 5-Day Disney Military Salute Tickets are available for eligible Guests to purchase at U.S. Military Bases, Shades of Green and Walt Disney World Resort theme park windows.
Separate theme park admission and reservation are required to enjoy the parks. In line with guidance from the CDC, Walt Disney World Resort has implemented health safety policies across the resort.
Following a horrific event in June 2016 that took the life of a toddler near Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Disney continues to be exceedingly proactive in preventing a similar attack from ever happening again.
On June 14, 2016, during a visit to the Walt Disney World Resort with his parents, two-year-old Lane Graves was attacked and killed by an alligator at Seven Seas Lagoon. It was a terrible time in Central Florida, as the City of Orlando was reeling from the shooting at the Pulse nightclub only days earlier, and that shooting came on the heels of the shooting death of singer Christina Grimmie only one night earlier.
Things just weren’t right in Central Florida that June. I remember it well, as my family and I were there visiting the parks that month too. One week earlier, our vacation home in Champions Gate had been ransacked while we were at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and tons of things were stolen. Instead of being in the parks the next day, we were instead in a detective’s office, giving reports and signing papers, and I had a major blowout on my truck while driving along Interstate 4 headed to the detective’s office.
But we experienced nothing like the magnitude of the events experienced by little Lane’s family who was visiting from Elkhorn, Nebraska. As Lane played along the beach at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, an alligator snatched him and drug him into the water, despite his father’s desperate attempts to save him. The adorable little boy drowned as his father, Matt, his mother, Melissa, his four-year-old sister, and several Guests witnessed the event in horror.
Since that time, Disney has erected signs all across Disney World property. The signs, which read, “Danger: Alligators and Snakes in Area; Stay away from the Water; Do not feed the wildlife.”
Fences and other barriers have also been placed around Disney’s property where Guest areas and water chance to intermingle. It is now more obvious than ever that a real danger exists within the waters of Seven Seas Lagoon and other bodies of water at Disney World (or anywhere in Florida, for that matter), thanks to the signage and barriers. Sessions about the dangers of the waters, the alligators, and snakes that inhabit the area, and how to keep Guests safe were also implemented in Cast Member training and orientation.
But Disney knew that those were merely the first steps to take in ensuring that no other family would have to face what the Graves family faced on that warm June day in 2016. There was more to be done–much more. And part of that effort involved the very arduous, very dangerous, very time-consuming, and expensive task of removing the very present danger itself: namely, alligators in the area.
Beginning almost immediately after Lane’s death and under the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s statewide alligator harvest program, trappers removed or relocated wildlife at an increased rate within established guidelines.
In 2016, 83 alligators were removed, followed by 57 in 2017, 33 in both 2018 and 2019, and 46 in 2020. Most of the 2020 removals were carried out during the months of March, April, May, and June 2020, during the Walt Disney World Resort’s closure in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The highest number of removals was clearly during the same year in which Lane’s death occurred. But before Lane’s passing, there weren’t nearly as many removals.
Between 2007 and 2015, only 23 alligators per year were removed. Twenty-three is better than zero, but did it take the attack in June of 2016 to get Disney and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to see that more needed to be done? Since Lane’s passing, an average of 45 alligators per year have been removed from the area. Double.
“In keeping with our strong commitment to safety, we continue to reinforce procedures related to reporting sightings and interactions with wildlife, and work closely with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to remove certain wildlife from our property in accordance with state regulations,” a Walt Disney World spokesperson said during an interview.
To address complaints about potentially dangerous alligators, Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) administers the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program or SNAP.
Under the SNAP program, if an alligator at least 4 feet in length is believed to pose a threat to people, pets, or property, the FWC issues a permit to a state-contracted alligator trapper, who then carries out the task of collecting the animal and removing it from the area. Some of the animals are taken to zoos or to animal exhibits, but rather than relocate the reptiles, the majority of trapped alligators in Florida are euthanized. This is because alligators will often attempt to return to the location of their capture, rather than create a new habitat for themselves where they are relocated.
Walt Disney World has been granted permission to have up to 500 of the reptiles removed through April 2023. Each alligator removed must be reported to state authorities, per the agreement, and its size must also be noted.
According to the FWC, there are more than 1.3 million alligators in the state of Florida, which provides the environment in which the reptiles flourish: swampy areas, rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds in a warm climate. Because alligators are cold-blooded animals, they do not like cold environments. This is why most American alligators can be found in the southeastern United States. The map below shows the prevalence of alligators in the state of Florida, by county.
After Lane Graves’s death, a sculpture of a lighthouse was added at the location of the attack, serving as a memorial to his life. The gold and blue lighthouse has two blue stars on it and was erected near the Seven Seas Lagoon beach outside Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.
The plaque reads, “The Lane Thomas Foundation: A Beacon of Hope, A Light of Love.” His parents founded the organization and say that they used “Lane Thomas” because anytime Lane met someone, he would say, “I’m Lane Thomas. I’m two.”
This post starts out sounding a bit like something from a Stephen King novel or a horror flick franchise. But alas, the chances are very good that you have been in the company of the terrifying dolls referenced here, as they are the ones inside the “it’s a small world” attraction at Disney World.
But this is not a joke or a hoax or a TikTok trend or a YouTube challenge. The meticulously crafted dolls that make up the scenes inside the “it’s a small world” attraction must have annual haircuts to keep them looking their best. Read on and you’ll learn why.
The ‘it’s a small world’ attraction first debuted at the Walt Disney World Resort on Opening Day in 1971. It’s one of those attractions that Guests either love or hate, and if they hate it, it’s often because of the tireless renditions of the theme song by the Sherman Brothers, “It’s a Small World After All,” played on repeat. It’s been estimated that the song plays more than 1,000 times each day.
Disney calls it “the happiest cruise that ever sailed,” and hails the attraction for getting Walt’s message across clearly: that it truly is a very small world when you think about it.
“Sing along to the classic anthem of world peace during a delightful musical boat tour. Cruise along the Seven Seaways Waterway on a gentle 10-minute journey through all 7 continents. Pass through vivid, fantastical scenes representing the iconic sights and sounds of dozens of nations. Behold a cast of dancing darlings from nearly every corner of the globe and watch as the Audio-Animatronics figures achieve universal harmony as they sing one song in many languages.”
Long-time Disney delight Mary Blair was instrumental in the details of the attraction, as was designer Alice Davis. Under the direction of Davis, Disney seamstresses sewed costumes for all the dolls in the attraction. When it was all over, more than 300 costumes were at the ready for Cast Members to dress the dolls, each one made from different regions’ materials, such as silks from India and wool from Scotland for the Scottish bagpiper’s costume.
But this lesser-known fact about “it’s a small world” has Guests feeling a bit uneasy about the attraction. It has others just plain horrified. TikTokker @thedisneyparkers lets fans in on a little secret (or two):
You heard that right! The dolls in the attraction have to have yearly haircuts so that they don’t end up looking completely disheveled, and it’s not a joke. The dolls’ hair is made of yarn, and over the course of the year, humidity causes the yarn to stretch out, yielding the need for each doll’s hair to be cut and reshaped.
@thedisneyparkers’ video also states that the dolls continue moving and dancing all night long, even after the music stops and the park closes, but we can’t confirm this. (If we’re being honest, we don’t really believe that music ever stops!)
The merriest time of the year has begun at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort! Bells are ringing, carolers are singing, trees are decorated, and tons of delicious, festive food and drinks will fill the bellies of thousands of Guests. Soon, one of the most popular events will start — International Festival of the Holidays — will start at EPCOT. International Festival of the Holidays will run from November 26 through December 30 and Disney has finally released the menus for all of the Festival booths!
Mele Kalikimaka (Near Port of Entry)
Food Items:
Kālua Pork with Okinawa Purple Sweet Potatoes and Mango Salad
Lomi Lomi Salmon with Tomatoes, Onions, Salmon Roe, Yuzu-Mayonnaise, and Yucca Chips (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
Haupia: Hawaiian Coconut Pudding with Candied Macadamia Nuts and Coconut
Beverages:
Hawaiian Pale Wheat Ale (New Item)
Sparkling Pineapple Wine, St. Petersburg, FL
Melon Breeze with Spiced Rum
Chestnuts & Good Cheer Holiday Kitchen (Near Disney Traders)
Food Items:
Cinnamon-glazed Almonds (Gluten/Wheat Friendly; (New Item)
Cinnamon-glazed Cashews (Gluten/Wheat Friendly; New Item)
Cinnamon-glazed Pecans (Gluten/Wheat Friendly; New Item)
Fire-roasted Chestnuts (Gluten/Wheat Friendly; New Item)
Beverages:
AMERICAN HERITAGE Gourmet Hot Cocoa (Non-alcoholic; New Item)
T.G. Lee Eggnog (nonalcoholic)
Sweet Nutty Stout, Orlando (New Item)
AMERICAN HERITAGE Gourmet Hot Cocoa with Peanut Butter Whiskey, Whipped Cream, and Candied Nuts (New Item)
T.G. Lee Eggnog with Peanut Butter Whiskey (New Item)
Black and White Cookie (Plant-based; Holiday Cookie Stroll)
Beverages:
Hanukkah Beer
Blue Cosmo Cocktail
Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina
Food Items:
Grilled Kebabs with Carrot-Chickpea Salad and Garlic Aïoli (New Item)
Lamb Kefta (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
Harissa Chicken (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
Stone-baked Moroccan Bread with Hummus, Fig Tapenade, and Zhoug Dip
Almond-spiced Cake with Ginger Mousse, Orange Ganache, and Sesame Tuile (New Item)
Beverages:
Lavender Apple Hard Cider (New Item)
Ginger Tumeric Hard Cider
Spicy Nutmeg Hard Cider
Fig Cocktail with Sparkling Wine, Fig Vodka, and Cranberry Juice (New Item)
Cider Flight
American Holiday Table
Food Items:
Slow-roasted Turkey with BEN’S ORIGINAL Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, and Cranberry Sauce
Holiday Pot Pie with Jackfruit, Mushrooms, Carrots, Peas, Onions, and Puff Pastry (Plant-based)
Pumpkin Gingerbread Cheesecake with Cranberry Whipped Cream and Candied Pumpkin Seeds
Chocolate Crinkle Cookie made with DOVE Dark Chocolate (Holiday Cookie Stroll)
Beverages:
Bright White Ale
Eggnog White Porter
Peppermint Chocolate Stout
Regional White Wine
Regional Red Wine
Beer Flight
Bavaria Holiday Kitchen (Germany)
Food Items:
Pork Schnitzel with Mushroom Sauce, Spätzle, and Braised Red Cabbage
Cheese Fondue in a Bread Bowl with Steamed Baby Vegetables and Marble Potatoes
Linzer Cookie (Holiday Cookie Stroll)
Beverages:
Hard Apple Cider
German-style Gold Lager (New Item)
Doppelbock Beer
Regional Riesling
Glühwein: House-made hot spiced wine
Beer Flight
Refreshment Outpost:
Food Items:
Coconut-Pineapple Cake with DOLE Whip (New Item)
Beverages:
Midnight Lager (New Item)
Nairobi Coffee Dark Beer (New Item)
The Donut Box (Near Test Track presented by Chevrolet)
Food Items
Pumpkin Cake Donut with Pumpkin Spice Icing (New Item)
Holiday Donut with Coconut and Crisp Pearls (New Item)
Chocolate Peppermint Donut (New Item)
Eggnog-Cream-filled Donut with Cinnamon Icing and Crumbled Gingersnap Cookies (New Item)
Beverages:
Gingerbread Milkshake (nonalcoholic)
Gingerbread Stout (New Item)
Gingerbread Milkshake with Whipped Cream Vodka
Le Marché de Noël Holiday Kitchen (France)
Food Items:
Napoleon de Saumon Fumé en Brioche: Smoked salmon napoleon with layers of smoked salmon, dill mousse, and crème fraîche mousse served in brioche (New Item)
Dinde Forestière, Patates Douces Rôties: Turkey with bacon, mushrooms, and onions in a mustard cream sauce served with roasted sweet potatoes (New Item)
Bûche de Noël Chocolat Blanc, Framboise: Chocolate Christmas log with chocolate biscuit, white chocolate mousse, raspberry cream, and chocolate fudge coating (New Item)
Beverages:
Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini: Vanilla vodka, vodka, chocolate milk, and whipped cream
Cabernet Sauvignon
Rosé Sparkling Wine
Cranberry Mimosa: Sparkling wine with orange juice and cranberry syrup
Tuscany Holiday Kitchen (Italy)
Food Items:
Mezzelune Croccanti: Crispy half-moon breaded mozzarella-filled ravioli with pomodoro sauce (New Item)
Ravioli: Shrimp ravioli in scampi sauce with white wine, garlic, lemon zest, and parsley (New Item)
Bomboloni alla Cioccolato-Nocciola: Chocolate-filled Italian doughnut with chocolate-hazelnut spread and powdered sugar (New Item)
Beverages:
Pinot Grigio
Chianti
Prosecco
Sparkling Red Wine
Moscato
Italian White Sangria with Prosecco
Italian Red Sangria with Cabernet Sauvignon
Italian Margarita with Tequila and Limoncello
Pilsner
Lotus Blossom Café (China) Food Items:
House-made Cheesy Crab Wontons
Beverages:
Fireworks: Tequila gold, vodka, orange juice, and mango syrup
Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen (Japan)
Food Items:
Chirashi Sushi Tree: Sashimi-grade tuna, salmon, ikura, and yellowtail with vegetables decorated on an artistic bed of rice to celebrate the holidays
New Year Celebration Soba: Buckwheat soba noodle in a hot dashi soup with shrimp tempura, fish cake, shiitake mushrooms, and chopped green onion
Mont Blanc Tart: Matcha mousse tart with a sweet red bean center sprinkled with konpeito sugar candy
Beverages:
Chocolate Banana Boba: Cocoa, Japanese milky drink, banana syrup, and strawberry popping boba pearls (nonalcoholic; New Item)
Sparkling Plum Wine (New Item)
Chocolate Tokyo Banana: Cocoa, Japanese milky drink, banana syrup, and vodka (New Item)
Pomegranate Draft Lager: Rice lager with hints of pomegranate and lemon (New Item)
Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen (Mexico)
Food Items:
Giant Tostada de Chorizo: Chorizo served on a giant tostada with chipotle black bean purée, salsa verde, queso cotija, crema mexicana, and pickled onion
Tamal de Barbacoa: Shredded barbacoa beef in a corn masa topped with ranchera salsa, queso cotija, and crema Mexicana (Gluten/Wheat Friendly; New Item)
Dulce de Leche Churros sprinkled with cinnamon-sugar
Beverages:
Cranberry-Cinnamon Margarita: Apple-cinnamon infused mezcal, cranberry juice, orange liqueur, and lime juice with a cinnamon-sugar rim (New Item)
Horchata Margarita: Tequila blanco, corn whiskey, horchata, and cinnamon horchata rum
Mistletoe Cerveza: Lager with blackcurrant liqueur (New Item)
Funnel Cake
Food Item:
Mini Pumpkin Pie Funnel Cake: Pumpkin funnel cake topped with ice cream, whipped cream, and graham cracker crumbles (New Item)
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company
Beverage:
Carolers’ Cold Brew – Joffrey’s French Roast Cold Brew with brown butter toffee, Swiss chocolate syrup, and sweet cream topped with whipped cream and TWIX bar pieces (New Item)
There are a ton of new food and beverage options coming to EPCOT International Festival of Holidays this year, along with some popular dishes making their return. What is also great about this menu is that it indicates which dishes are gluten-free and allergy-friendly, so everyone can enjoy dishes without worrying about allergic reactions.
Disney Parks around the world have been struggling with a number of issues since they have reopened after forced closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have had to close more than once, others have mask mandates for all Guests at all times, Disneyland and Walt Disney World require all Guests to wear masks while indoors, whether it be on an indoor attraction or inside of a store. Disneyland Paris, in accordance with government guidelines, requires all Guests 12 and over to obtain a Health Pass, which proves that they have been vaccinated.
Tokyo Disney, however, has not seemed to struggle as much as other Disney theme parks during the pandemic. Both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea were only closed for about four months before they reopened, much like Walt Disney World. Tokyo Disney is still taking the temperatures of all visitors before they enter the Park and Guests are required to wear masks at all times.
In an interesting turn, from November 22 through November 28, Tokyo Disney will be testing a new ticketing system. Guests who can prove that they are fully vaccinated will be able to purchase special theme park tickets. The Tokyo Disneyland website states the following:
okyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea will be cooperating in the Japanese government’s technical demonstration of using COVID-19 vaccine certificates and negative test results during the limited period of November 22 to 28, 2021. For this purpose, guests who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have received a negative COVID-19 test result will be able to purchase specified Park tickets for admission to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea during this period
Tokyo Disney notes that these tickets can only be purchased online, but when the Guest arrives at Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea, they must show the following in order to be able to use the tickets.
On your day of visit, please bring (1) a certificate (verifying vaccination, or negative test result) along with (2) personal identification. The cast member will check your certificate at the Park admission gate.
1. Either of the following COVID-19 certificates will be required (a copy or photo captured using smartphone accepted) verifying: ・Vaccination (indicating that two weeks have passed since the completion of second vaccination） ・Negative PCR result (using sample taken within three days before the date of entering the Park） ・Negative antigen result (using sample taken within one day before the date of entering the Park）
2. Personal identification (the original document, not a copy） With name and date of birth (passport, driver license, etc.）– Please note you will not be able to enter the Park without the required certificate and identification. – Guests ages 12 and under will not be required to present a certificate if accompanied by a guardian.– Please note that an email survey may be conducted at a later date, with regards to the technical demonstration involving the use of vaccine certificates and negative test results.
For right now, it looks like Tokyo Disney is testing this system to see how popular a discounted ticket program for vaccinated Guests will be. Park officials have not said whether this will become a permanent system in the future, or if the program will extend past its initial week.
