Two Fan-Favorite Dining Experiences Are Changing Soon

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks

Whether visiting Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, or a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, a significant portion of the Disney experience is the dining.

Walt Disney World dining is an extra way to create memorable moments and experience that one-of-a-kind customer service and immersion that comes with a Disney vacation.

Quick service dining locations are convenient and, well, fast! But making advance dining reservations to eat at the best restaurants is a surefire way to enhance the Disney vacation.

EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival

However, the high prices can easily drive some Guests away, so the Walt Disney Company has found ways to sweeten the pot and make the experience even more enticing. This includes Character Dining as well as all-you-can-eat buffets.

That being said, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many Walt Disney World restaurants to limit their offerings. Character dining and buffets were nowhere to be found, even when the best restaurants began reopening.

Luckily, two of Walt Disney World’s most beloved dining experiences are about to return, making the exorbitant prices worth it again.

Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom will return the character dining aspect to its full potential. After this restaurant reopened, the princesses would simply wave at Guests as they walked past.

Beginning on February 28, princesses such as Ariel, Snow White, Jasmine, Aurora, and Cinderella will offer traditional meet-and-greet opportunities during the Character Dining experience.

Chef Mickey's

Over at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the signature restaurant, Chef Mickey’s, was one of the first to reopen during the pandemic. The characters were missing at first, and so was the buffet style. However, now that the characters have returned, it’s time for the buffet dining style to reappear. Beginning on March 1, buffet-style dining is again offered at Chef Mickey’s!

If you’re visiting Walt Disney World soon, prepare to get the full Disney experience at Cinderella’s Royal Table and Chef Mickey’s!

Opening Date of The Villas at Disneyland Hotel Announced!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Disney Resorts

Are you ready to help clients create some family memories at a Disney Vacation Club property surrounded by some of their favorite Walt Disney Animation Studios stories? The Villas at Disneyland Hotel will open to guests on September 28, 2023!

The Villas at Disneyland Hotel will celebrate the magic of creativity and storytelling through a blend of contemporary designs and carefully curated pieces inspired by the stories, characters and worlds of Disney Animation.

This will be the fourth tower at the AAA Four Diamond, landmark Disneyland Hotel, located just steps from the Downtown Disney District, Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.

The lobby will feature a one-of-a-kind mural created exclusively for The Villas at Disneyland Hotel by Disney Animation artist Lorelay Bové, known for her work on classics from “The Princess and the Frog” to “Encanto.”

The Villas at Disneyland Hotel will have 344 whimsically themed rooms, including duo studios, deluxe studios, one- and two-bedroom villas, and grand villas. Each includes modern just-like-home amenities with touches of Disney magic sprinkled throughout, themed to Walt Disney Animation Studios like “The Jungle Book,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Fantasia” and more.

Guests can even soak up some inspiration during their vacation at a vibrantly colored, mid-century modern hangout for the entire family.

Here are some upcoming important dates to keep in mind:

  • Wednesday, March 15 – Disney Vacation Club Members can begin to make rental reservations by calling Member Services at (800) 800-9800
  • Thursday, March 16 – Disneyland Resort Magic Key holders can start booking rental reservations by contacting (714) 956-6425
  • Friday, March 17 – All guests can make rental reservations online or by contacting (714) 956-6425

The Villas are limited in availability and are subject to restrictions and change without notice.

Keep an eye on Disney Travel News as we continue to share more about the newest Disney Vacation Club property, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel!

The Villas at Disneyland Hotel is not yet fully registered or available for sale.  Not an offer in any jurisdiction where registration requirements have not been met. Furnishings and fixtures are subject to change. Disney Vacation Development, Inc., 1851 Community Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830.

Disney to Retheme Roller Coaster Amid Sexual Assault Allegations Against Steven Tyler

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

In December, we first reported that the ongoing refurbishment of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney’s MGM Studios) might secretly be a retheme, cutting ties with Steven Tyler. In a newly-filed lawsuit, Tyler stands accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in the 1970s.

A recent report from a Disney Cast Member, shared to Reddit by u/wampantwabbit, appears to confirm the rumor. “I mentioned a tee I wanted from RnR that they didn’t have in my size to a cast member today and she ‘confirmed’ that WDW have ‘lost the contract’ with Aerosmith and it will now be rethemed,” the Guest reported.

Of course, this is just a rumor, and front-line Disney Cast Members are often kept in the dark about any major Disney Park news. But fans have long hoped for a retheme of the ride. Even before the allegations against Tyler, many felt it was outdated. Disneyland Paris rethemed its version of the Walt Disney Studios Park ride to Avengers Assemble: Flight Force, located in Avengers Campus.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will reopen in the summer of 2023. Will it star Powerline from A Goofy Movie (1995) or another timeless rock band? Or will Steven Tyler remain? Inside the Magic will continue to report on the ride as it undergoes refurbishment.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is the only Disney Park coaster to go upside down and a must-do for all thrill-seekers! “Race along the darkened freeways of Los Angeles in a super-stretch limo to the rockin’ tunes of Aerosmith,” reads the official Disney attraction description. “Inside their Hollywood music studio, legendary rock band Aerosmith is wrapping up a recording session. When their manager tells them they’re late for a concert across town, the band invites you to ride along.”

“Hop into their gleaming limousine and speed off into the night as Aerosmith’s hard-rock harmonies fill the air. Buckle up before zooming through the city on this roller-coaster style attraction. Speed through iconic Hollywood landmarks. Maneuver past traffic jams and swoop into 3 thrilling inversions—2 rollover loops and one corkscrew—as the wind races across your face. Will you make it to the year’s biggest concert in time?”

“Selfie” Gets Celebrity Banned From Disney

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

There have been numerous reports of bad Guest behavior in the Disney Parks resulting in disciplinary action, but how many have involved some of Hollywood’s elite? Movie stars that call California home are seen in Disneyland quite periodically, but this Pitch Perfect diva managed to walk out with a huge ban.

Reports of Guests assaulting Cast Members and even public urination have circulated on social media with a disturbing amount of frequency, and Disney has taken action against this kind of activity, but it’s not every day a celebrity gets involved. During one of her recent trips to the Disneyland Resort, Rebel Wilson was engaged in some suspicious activity that had Disney themselves getting involved.

In her recent Daily Show interview, Wilson admitted to visiting Disneyland every weekend and for every major life event and even being a Disney Adult herself. However, it looks like she won’t be visiting the happiest place on earth any time soon.

The Pitch Perfect star admitted to taking an illegal selfie while on Disneyland property when she told Hasan Minhaj,

“I did get banned from Disneyland for 30 days because I took a photo in a secret bathroom inside Disneyland, which is illegal at Disneyland, and I got officially banned for 30 days.”

Wilson later admitted that she was approached by Disney themselves pertaining to her ban, and the experience seems shockingly more like a brief suspension than an actual ban.

Rebel Wilson stars in Isn't It Romantic

The actress revealed,

“They called me up and said, ‘Rebel, what 30 days do you not want to come to Disneyland?’ and I said, ‘Oh, June would be fine!’”

On one hand, it seems entirely ridiculous and a little gross to take a selfie in a Disneyland bathroom, but does it really seem like a ban-worthy offense? On the other, many hardcore Disney buffs might be wondering if Wilson is getting off too easy after breaking Disney’s rules.

Boy Repeatedly Punches Mother at Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

We’ve extensively reported fights at The Most Magical Place on Earth, from a brawl at Magic Kingdom to a drunken altercation in Disney’s Polynesian Resort lobby. But these incidents typically occur between adult Guests, though they likely leave a mark on children nearby.

Unfortunately, one Walt Disney World Resort Guest recently witnessed a fight between a child and his mother. While waiting for a character meet-and-greet at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Reddit user u/Werewolveswithagenda saw a ten year old boy hitting his mother and bullying his younger sister.

“It wasn’t the normal slaps a child usually gives adults when they’re mad, it was full on punches and extremely hard slaps,” they recalled. “His mom was trying to defuse the situation by ignoring him but he kept slapping her… He also kept telling his younger sister that he hates her.”

The father eventually returned and spoke sternly to the boy, who stopped hitting his mother but “started whining really loud.”

family on animal kingdom discovery island trails

The Guest said it was a “horrible experience.” Though they didn’t report it to Disney Cast Members, they’ve never forgotten what they saw.

Rather than becoming violent, involve a Disney Cast Member if you encounter issues with other Disney Park Guests. Though the Theme Park managers aim to please, they’ll happily punish anyone breaking the rules. Regardless of who instigated the viral Walt Disney World fight last summer, both families involved were permanently banned from the Central Florida Disney Park.