Disney Announces Special Offerings Only Available For Summer Crowds

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World Resort has announced some special offerings just in time for summer.

As Disney Park Guests make their way to Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT, the summer crowds will have a few extra options and new offerings as they look for food options.

At Magic Kingdom Park, Tony’s Town Square Restaurant will be serving up some new dishes for you to enjoy. Start off your bella notte with one of the new appetizers – Tony’s Garlic Bread or the Toy Box Tomato Salad. After tasting these items, there are some new entrées to try, including the Oven-roasted Shrimp Scampi, Butcher’s Steak, Orecchiette with Spicy Italian Sausage, and Penne with Chicken al Forno. And what better way to finish than with a dessert, like the new Tiramisù Cannoli, Italian Strawberry Shortcake, Tony’s Spumoni Tart, or the Mandarincello Custard – how delicious! But don’t worry, the Spaghetti and Meatballs is still there so you can have your Lady and the Tramp moment.

Disney World Summer Food Offerings

Sunshine Seasons at EPCOT has some new eats to try – pizza rolls! This quick-service location found in The Land now has both a Cheese Pizza Roll and Pepperoni Pizza Roll. These pizza rolls have reportedly replaced pizza at The Land.

EPCOT pizza rolls

If you’ve got a sweet tooth and want a cool treat on a warm summer day, take a trip over to Disney Springs for its newest addition – Salt & Straw! This ice cream spot has an array of unique flavors on the menu including fan favorites as well as a rotating monthly selection, so there’s always something new to try. Plus, sampling is highly encouraged.

This sweet spot isn’t the only thing new to Disney Springs. Marketplace Snacks is getting a bit of a foodie revamp with some delicious items being served. Starting today, Mickey and Friends Bubble Waffle Sundaes will be available. Choose between flavors like the Mickey Waffle Sundae featuring vanilla soft-serve, hot fudge, cookie crumbles, and white chocolate crisp pearls, the Minnie Waffle Sundae with vanilla soft-serve, strawberry topping, sliced strawberries, and white chocolate crisp pearls, or Donald’s Waffle Sundae made with vanilla soft-serve, lemon curd, and blueberries. If you want a bit of chocolate, Goofy’s Peanut Waffle Sundae has vanilla and chocolate soft-serve with hot fudge, peanuts, sliced bananas, sliced strawberries, M&M’s Minis, and a cherry on top while Pluto’s Waffle Sundae has chocolate soft-serve, chocolate-covered pretzels, peanut butter sauce, and milk chocolate crisp pearls.

Salt & Straw Summer Offerings 2022

Disney Resorts are also offering special dining options for Guests. Several resorts have new plant-based offerings to enjoy! Start your day off the right way with the Plant-based Mickey-shaped Frittata featuring tomato, spinach, onions, and “mozzarella” served with potatoes and mixed fruit – how adorable! The IMPOSSIBLE Burger serves up an IMPOSSIBLE patty topped with Carolina-style barbecued jackfruit, pickled slaw, and “cheddar” served with french fries.

Disney World Summer Food Offerings

These two items will be introduced to various menus now through June 7 at the Intermission Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, World Premiere Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, End Zone Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, Everything POP Shopping & Dining at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Centertown Market at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Riverside Mill Food Court at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, and Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.

MORE Disney Genie Changes With How Guests Purchase the Upcharge Service

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Uncategorized

Less than a year after Disney first introduced Disney Genie, Disney Genie+, and Lightning Lane attractions, we’re seeing more changes unfold specifically for the upcharge service, Disney Genie+.

Just recently, Walt Disney World announced it is making changes at EPCOT to its current individual Lightning Lane and Disney Genie+ attraction set up. Beginning May 31, 2022, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will join EPCOT’s list of Disney Genie+ attractions. This means both Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be individual Lightning Lane attractions from May 27 to May 30. Starting May 31, however, Cosmic Rewind will be the only individual Lightning Lane at EPCOT as Remy’s rolls onto the Disney Genie+ ride options.

Now, we’re learning Disney is also changing how Guests purchase Disney Genie+, the upcharge service (similar to the former Fast Pass system) that allows Guests to select a few attractions a day to skip the standby line at the rate of $15 per person, per day.

Walt Disney World Resort has announced they are making an adjustment to how Disney Guests purchase the Disney Genie+ service by noting:

“Starting June 8, Disney Genie+ will only be offered for purchase through the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit – we will no longer offer the option to purchase this service pre-arrival as a ticket add-on for dates remaining in 2022 and in 2023.”

disney-genie

“This means that, moving forward, whether you have an Annual Pass, multi- or single-day ticket, you may only purchase Disney Genie+ service on the day of your visit via the app, one day at a time, subject to availability. We’re focused on delivering the best possible guest experience, and this adjustment will help manage the incredibly strong demand our guests have shown for Disney Genie+.”

Disney also reminded Guests of a recent change made to its Disney Genie+ policy that Guests shouldn’t expect to get more than 2 or 3 a day individual attraction selection choices when purchasing Disney Genie+. They go on to note, “We expect that, on average, guests who purchase Disney Genie+ service will continue to enter 2-3 attractions or experiences each day using the Lightning Lane entrance when the first selection is made early in the day.“

Track of Slinky Dog Dash

Keep in mind, that if you have already purchased a Disney Park ticket for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom that includes Disney Genie+ service for dates later in 2022, Disney will still allow you to use the service during your visit. It is also noted that this Disney Genie service purchase change does not apply to Disneyland Resort, only to Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney’s “Broken” Top-Tier Attraction Leaves Guests Feeling Ill

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

One of the most popular attractions at Walt Disney World Resort is Flight of Passage, located in Pandora in Animal Kingdom. The attraction opened in 2017 to incredible wait times of 4+ hours, and still, years later, we can expect that during busy times of the year, wait times will climb to those large waits once again. Typically, the ride had around a two-hour wait, which is still pretty long for many!

The attraction is a flight simulator that allows us, Guests of Animal Kingdom, to hop on the back of a banshee by linking to someone who is Na’vi. Through this, we are able to deeply explore Pandora, the world of Avatar, through sights, scents, and movement. We recently reported on some Guests complaining about the state of the attraction, and now, those worries continue to grow.

It seems that riders are starting to notice blurriness and double vision when riding. 

Flight of passage blurriness/double vision. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this? I hadn’t ridden in over a year, but Flight has always been one of the more convincing experiences at WDW (with the exclusion of my ride last night, in which these problems were distracting). Maybe something with the glasses or how I was wearing them?

Flight of Passage utilizes 3-D glasses, but this should not make the attraction’s video footage look distorted in any way, as this Guest is noting that they experienced. It seems other Guests have also experienced similar issues in sections of the ride. One Guest replied stating, “I’ve had similar issues this pastime, but mostly just on the part where it’s in the dark cavern.” Another noted, “It’s the same for me, but it comes into focus as more of the bioluminescence comes on screen in the cave scene.”

The responses of Guests also experiencing this blurry, double vision sensation only continued to grow as the conversation carried on. Some noted that this may just be an issue with one theater, but not all, however, we cannot be sure what the issue is here, if there indeed is something broken with the attraction. One Guest noticed that the seat in which they were given made a huge difference in terms of ride quality, “I rode it twice recently. First time I was on the left side (spots 9-16), 2nd to last spot. Perfect. 2nd time I was on the right side (section for spots 1-8). Spot 1. Horrible double vision for most of the ride.”

pandora 2

Another rider commented in agreement but also hopes that Disney is able to correct the issues as the blurry vision increases motion sickness when riding.

Glad it wasn’t just me! It was definitely amazing when it first opened but I’ve noticed it getting progressively blurrier. I thought it was just the location of where I was sitting but it looks like there are some mechanical wear and tear issues. I hope they fix it up though because I was getting more motion sickness due to it being blurry.

During recent rides, we can attest that there are certain sections that seem to have lost their crispness. Considering Flight of Passage is a separately ticketed Lightning Lane pass, and does not come with the typical Disney Genie+ options, many Guests expect the attraction to ride without flaw. And now, with Avatar: The Way of Water debuting its first trailer, we will likely see a new resurgence in the James Cameron-created franchise.

Amidst the price hike,Disney Parks Guests keep visiting and keep spending

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Disney+, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Uncategorized

For all the grumbling in the atmosphere from Disney Parks fans who have had their fill with The Walt Disney Company‘s affinity for price hikes at each theme park, Guests sure are spending more while on their Disney vacations.

During The Walt Disney Company‘s Fiscal Year 2022 Quarter 2 earnings call on Wednesday, Disney CEO Bob Chapek and Disney CFO Christine McCarthy had lots to share about the good things happening inside the House of Mouse, including an increase in theme park operating income, better-than-expected Disney+ subscriber growth, and perhaps not quite as earth-shattering losses due to Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland being closed for part or all of the quarter.

“Our strong results in the second quarter, including fantastic performance at our domestic parks and continued growth of our streaming services, with 7.9 million Disney+ subscribers added in the quarter and total subscriptions across all our DTC offerings exceeding 205 million, once again proved that we are in a league of our own,” said CEO Bob Chapek during the call.

When it came to theme park operating income for The Walt Disney Company, Disney’s Parks, Product, and Experiences division reported impressive numbers–numbers that suggest that despite months of unrest over Disney’s newly-revamped (and newly re-priced) Annual Passholder programs at Disney World and Disneyland Resort, increases in food prices in the parks (and smaller portions reportedly being served), and in other prices, Disney Guests are still showing up and still spending cash.

A press release from The Walt Disney Company ahead of Wednesday’s earnings call said it all:

“Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Disney Parks, Experiences and Products revenues for the quarter increased to $6.7 billion compared to $3.2 billion in the prior-yearquarter. Segment operating results increased by $2.2 billion to an income of $1.8 billion compared to a loss of $0.4 billion in the prior-yearquarter. Higher operating results for the quarter reflected increases at our domestic parks and experiences businesses and, to a lesser extent, at our international parks and resorts and merchandise licensing businesses.”

Disneyland Resort

And there was seemingly no attempt to cover the fact that Disney has indeed raised prices for many things across the board, leading to increased profits.

“Operating incomegrowth at our domestic parks and experiences was due to higher volumes and increased Guest spending, partially offset by higher costs. Higher volumes were due to increases in attendance, occupied room nights, and cruise ship sailings. Cruise ships operated at reduced capacities in the current quarter while sailings were suspended in the prior-yearquarter. Guest spending growth was due to an increase in average per capita ticket revenue, higher average daily hotel room rates, and an increase in food, beverage, and merchandise spending. The increase in average per capita ticket revenue was due to a favorable attendance mix and the introduction of Genie+ and Lightning Lane in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. Higher costs were primarily due to volume growth, cost inflation, and higher marketing spending.”

See the World at Your Walt Disney World Resort Hotel - D23

It may be the last time the Disney executives can be so chipper on an earnings call for a while, thanks to even more upset about CEO Bob Chapek‘s recent statement about Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill, followed by the Company’s admitted determination to see the bill repealed. Many Disney Parks fans feel that Disney is attempting to “indoctrinate” children with some of its recent content, leading many to “boycott Disney,” even if only verbally.

Florida slaps 'woke' Disney World? Can ban be selective?

However, the recent events involving Disney, DeSantis, and Reedy Creek didn’t transpire until the current quarter, meaning the bad news can be pushed aside for a little bit longer. The third-quarter earnings call might have a completely different tone to it.

Entertainment Update at Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Via DisneyLists.com

Whether it’s the smooth harmonies of the Dapper Dans performing on Main Street, U.S.A., the action-packed thrills of “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular,” or a warm hug from Anna and Elsa, live entertainment is filling every corner of Walt Disney World Resort these days.

New shows and experiences that debuted at the start of the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration continue to dazzle guests. These include two new nighttime spectaculars – “Disney Enchantment” at Magic Kingdom Park and “Harmonious” at EPCOT – and “Disney KiteTails,” which is performed multiple times throughout the day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. As “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” continues throughout 2022, welcoming back fan-favorite entertainment is one of the many ways Disney is continuing to add even more magic to the guest experience. Keep reading for an overview of new, returning and soon-to-debut entertainment.

‘Fantasmic!’ Set to Dazzle Audiences Again Later This Year

The iconic “Fantasmic!” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will make its much-anticipated return later in 2022 with a new show sequence featuring Disney characters – Mulan, Elsa, Aladdin, Pocahontas and Moana – in heroic moments, as well as new technical enhancements. Guests won’t want to miss this spectacle set on a canvas of water where the forces of good and evil battle it out in Mickey’s dream. The extravagant, open-air nighttime musical boasts more than 50 live performers, massive sets, stunning effects, rousing music and dazzling pyrotechnics.

Revisiting the Big Blue World

This summer, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will debut “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” marking the freshly reimagined return of one of its most popular musical entertainment experiences. This fully updated, 25-minute stage show incorporates live performers and puppets, along with many favorite production numbers from the original “Finding Nemo: The Musical.” In addition to a new script, the show features new set pieces with a fresh look, and a new LED video wall designed to visually extend the world created by the physical sets on stage – such as a 32-foot-long sunken submarine and a 15-foot-tall fish tank volcano.

Frontier-Style Fun Family Feast

On June 23, 2022, a classic Walt Disney World dinner show, “Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue” at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, returns to once again offer rousing performances. Since its opening in 1974, this popular family experience has continued to surprise and delight guests with singing, zany comedy and an unforgettable country feast of fried chicken, smoked BBQ ribs, savory sides, and, of course, strawberry shortcake!

Along with the much-anticipated return of the Pioneer Hall Players and cast members, the show will feature new updates to its script and scenery while staying true to the hilarious, high-spirited family entertainment adored by generations of guests. Advance reservations are strongly encouraged and will be available on DisneyWorld.com starting May 26.

What’s New and Next: Shows, Parades, and Cavalcades

At Magic Kingdom, three exciting experiences recently made their return or debut:

  • “Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade” now winds its way through the park twice daily, offering guests double the chance to see enchanting floats like the fire-breathing Maleficent dragon.
  • “Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire” features favorite scenes inspired by “Frozen,” “Tangled” and “The Princess and the Frog” – plus a new opening and finale with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Goofy in their sparkling 50th Anniversary EARidescent fashions.
  • “Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade!” stars nearly 30 favorite Disney and Pixar friends such as Nick and Judy from “Zootopia,” Baloo and King Louie from “The Jungle Book,” Miguel from “Coco,” plus Merida, Moana, The Incredibles, Pocahontas and more.

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, “Festival of the Lion King” inspires guests with its larger-than-life musical production filled with pageantry and puppetry. And this summer, two popular performances are set to make their much-anticipated return to the show:

  • Tumble Monkeys, a group of high-flying primates, will soon resume their acrobatic hijinks.
  • The show’s iconic birds will once again soar above the stage.

Later this year, Magic Kingdom Park will welcome back Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Offered on select dates August through October, this special event haunts the park after normal operating hours (separate admission is required) with a lineup of frightfully fun entertainment:

  • “Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade” showcases floats filled with villains, Disney characters dressed in their Halloween best, and the Haunted Mansion graveyard diggers.
  • “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular” stage show stars the wicked Sanderson Sisters.

Personal Interactions With Beloved Characters

As part of the recent phased return of traditional character greetings across Walt Disney World, guests can now hug Mickey Mouse, share a laugh with Goofy, and get autographs from their favorite Disney princesses. Here are just a few of the available character greeting opportunities:

  • Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and Tiana at Magic Kingdom
  • Anna, Elsa, Mulan and Jasmine at EPCOT
  • Minnie Mouse, Sulley and Doc McStuffins at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
  • Kevin from Disney and Pixar’s “Up!” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
  • Pluto, Goofy and Donald Duck at various Disney Resort hotels