Work has been progressing on the upcoming new Star Wars immersive resort, “Galactic Journeys: A Star Wars Adventure.” (That’s its proposed name, anyway.)
It’s being built on the south side of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The resort will also be seamlessly connected to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the story behind their stay at an interstellar cruise liner.
For now, though, all we have are these walls. The resort project is finally going vertical, with a number of concrete panels installed, outlining what may be the perimeter of the resort.
The hotel itself will feature a basic rectangular design, confirming beliefs that it will be a smaller “boutique”-style hotel. According to the permits, rooms come in two sizes: a regular sized cabin and the larger first class cabin. The first floor has 32 regular cabins and two first class cabins. If the second floor has the same layout, the Star Wars hotel could have as little as 68 total rooms.
No opening date has been set for the Star Wars Hotel as of yet, but we expect to hear more about it at the 2019 D23 Expo in Anaheim coming up in August.
Earlier today, 55 stunning Disney-themed gondolas were unwrapped for special test runs in another exciting step forward for our Disney Skyliner system that’ll transport guests at Walt Disney World Resort later this fall.
The unwrapped cabins, some of which feature stunning graphics based on Disney films, attractions and characters, are now making test runs back-and-forth between Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The latest test-runs of the unwrapped Disney Skyliner gondolas are a significant milestone for the overall testing process of the state-of-the-art transportation system. Walt Disney Imagineering began testing the gondolas at the Resort just months ago.
When fall arrives, guests of Disney Skyliner Resorts – Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – will be able to enjoy the benefit of being whisked between Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests will ride alongside favorites such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Lilo & Stitch, and the Hitchhiking Ghosts from the Haunted Mansion.
From September 1-November 2, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will have EXTRA, Extra Magic Hours from 6–9 am that includes access to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, and other select attractions. (Please note that on August 29-31, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will open at6 am for all guests. There will not be Extra, Extra Magic Hours on those days.)
This is going to be a considerable advantage for guests wanting to visit Galaxy’s Edge. Disney has already announced there will be capacity limits for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge itself and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. During those dates, Disney Resort guests will likely fill up the land. It is likely that non-Disney Resort guests may not be able to enter due to crowd limits.
Bottom line, if you want the best chance to get into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge—stay at a Disney Resort.
Normally, on any given day, only a single park will have Extra Magic Hours. So, if Disney Resort guests want to take advantage of the extra time, they all head to the same park.
This fall, in addition to the extra hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, both Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom Park will also offer EXTRA, Extra Magic Hours. From August 29-November 2 from 7–8 am, resort guests will be able to enjoy an extra hour in these parks. (Epcot will continue to offer Extra Magic Hours on select days).
This is also a great benefit. If you don’t plan on visiting Galaxy’s Edge, you’ll get to enjoy Extra Magic benefits in other Disney parks every day.
This fall is going to be very busy at Walt Disney World. Staying on Disney property will offer many significant benefits. If you’re looking to stay at a Disney Resort, we highly recommend booking with Michelle Waitt at www.bestmickeytrip.com.
One of the more exciting moments for those who have ever planned a Disney vacation and planned to stay at a Disney resort is receiving your complimentary Magic Bands in the mail before you even leave on your vacation.
These complimentary bands had 8 color choices. When the Magic Bands first began, my family and I bought character bands that featured our favorite Disney characters. We have used these now for the last several times that we have vacationed with the exception of buying a new one for our daughter who grew out of her kid sized band.
The Magic Band, which recently celebrated its fifth anniversary, effortlessly links the Walt Disney World Resort vacation choices and plans guests make in the My Disney Experience app – from entering the parks to redeeming FastPass+ selections, using dining plan credits, linking Disney PhotoPass photos and more.
Now, after 5 years of collecting new complimentary bands with each trip, Disney has announced that they will give resort guests and annual passholders another option.
Guests will have the option to upgrade, at a discounted price, from a complimentary solid-color MagicBand to one of more than 30 new MagicBand options featuring favorite Disney characters and designs.
These new MagicBand options will be available for pre-arrival purchase at a special price of $14.99 off retail cost through the My Disney Experience website.
A colorful selection of complimentary MagicBands is still available for guests who choose not to upgrade to one of the new options, and these new design options can also be shipped to guests’ homes (U.S. addresses only) if ordered 11 or more days ahead of arrival and can be personalized if done so at least 6 or more days ahead of arrival.
Visit A Walk With The Mouse for any updates or Disney News!
If you are staying on Disney property, deciding which resort to stay at can have a huge impact on your stay. Each resort has its own unique qualities that you need to take into account and factors which must be looked into to ensure you have the best time possible. Some of those factors are
cost
location
dining options
transportation options
party size/room size
amenities
Disney offers 3 types of resorts that while they have their own uniqueness, they are similar in a lot of ways.
Deluxe Resorts
The Disney World Deluxe Resort Hotels are the highest tier of on-site Disney hotels, and understandably so.
Aside from the luxury of the resorts themselves, distance to parks and ease in transportation is a huge benefit of the Disney deluxe resorts. A majority of them are significantly closer to one or more of the Disney parks. Also, there’s a wider variety of transportation options, from boats to monorails.
Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian Hotels are all just a monorail ride away to Magic Kingdom. The Polynesian and Grand Floridian also offer boat access to Magic Kingdom (Disney’s Wilderness Lodge too).
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts and Disney’s Boardwalk Inn are within walking distance (or a boat ride) to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is the closest deluxe hotel to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Another great perk of the Disney deluxe resorts is that they offer both quick-service and table-service dining options. Many of the Disney World deluxe resorts even have character dining. For example, The Contemporary has Chef Mickey’s and the Grand Floridian has 1900 Park Fare where characters are constant.
The Disney deluxe resort hotels offer the most recreation options.
At the Magic Kingdom and Boardwalk hotels, boat rentals are a fun option for a relaxing day around the resort. Depending on which you choose, you’ll have a basketball, volleyball or tennis courts to play on — or a combination of the three!
Each of the Deluxe hotels has multiple, gorgeous pools and a hot tub for you to enjoy.
There are 8 Deluxe resorts;
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
There are also 12 Deluxe Villa resorts;
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Moderate Resorts
Moderate Resorts tends to have more variety in terms of amenities, layout, dining, and transportation options in comparison to Value resorts, but certainly, don’t have all the bells and whistles of Deluxe resorts.
As the saying goes, “you get what you pay for.” Moderates resorts are a great middle-ground.
All Moderate resorts offer bus transportation to and from the theme parks. Unlike Value resorts, Moderates have multiple bus stops throughout each resort (with the exception of Port Orleans – French Quarter). This means that you won’t have to walk too far to catch a bus.
Port Orleans Riverside
Boat transportation is available at the following resorts: Fort Wilderness has a ferry to Magic Kingdom, while French Quarter and Riverside share ferry service to Disney Springs.
Moderates are some of the largest resorts at Disney World. Port Orleans – French Quarter is the one exception, as it is a relatively small resort by Disney World standards.
Each resort feels like its own world, spread out and away from the bustle of the park. It feels as though you are staying in an all-inclusive resort island; buildings/areas are separated from one other with walking trails and water features are found throughout the properties. Unlike most Disney World properties, you get more of a sense of tranquil isolation.
Cabins @ Fort Wilderness
One downside to the larger, spread-out Moderate resorts is that choosing a room location becomes an important factor. Rooms closer to the lobby, main pool, and dining areas are often more expensive and in higher demand. However, securing a better location means that you won’t have to walk as far to dine after a long day at the park.
Caribbean Beach
All Moderates have both a quick-service restaurant and a table-service restaurant. The one exception is Port Orleans French Quarter (no table service option). However, this isn’t really a problem because guests can easily walk to Boatwright’s Dining Hall (Port Orleans – Riverside).
Moderate resorts have a great selection of pools. Moderates have additional features like water slides and hot tubs.
There are 5 Moderate resorts;
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Value Resorts
Disney Value resorts are the most affordable, budget-friendly lodging on Disney World property.
Value Resorts are some of the furthest Walt Disney resorts from the parks.
All-Star Movies
The good news is the guests at Value resorts can easily access all of the Disney World theme parks via free Disney transportation. The downside is that the only transportation option available to Value resort guests is bus service (ie, no direct monorail or boat access).
However, buses operate through the day and transport guests directly to and from every Disney World theme park. Bus stops are conveniently located in the front of each resort.
As far as Disney World resorts go, Value Resorts are the most “Disney-ish,” kid-friendly resorts in the park. Each resort has its own overall theme, with each building/wing of a resort themed around a Disney movie, musical style, sport, decade, or some other specific element.
For example, All-Star Sports has a “surfing” wing, All-Star Movies has a “Toy Story” wing, and Art of Animation has a section of family suites themed after “Finding Nemo.” These themed areas and elements are lots of fun – for kids and adults alike!
Art of Animation Big Blue Pool
While the exterior of each building exudes a lot of character with fun themes and icons of Disney personalities, the interiors have minimal decor. For the most part, the rooms are basic and no-frills.
Standard room size at Pop Century and the 3 All-Star resorts are 260 square feet, while Art of Animation is 277 square feet. This compares with roughly 314 square feet at moderate resorts. Maximum occupancy is 4 people (plus one baby under age 3 in a crib).
While none of the Disney Value resorts have water slides, each has their own themed-pools.
Pools at Value resorts tend to be a little smaller than the pools at Moderate and Deluxe resorts. However, there is one notable exception: Art of Animation’s Big Blue Pool is the largest pool at Disney World.
Each of the 5 Disney Value resorts has their own food court. These meals count as Quick Service meals.
None of the Disney Value resorts offer Table Service meals.
