Disney has recently updated its face-covering policy for guests visiting Walt Disney World.
Here is the full statement updated on Walt Disney World’s website:
Face coverings are optional for Guests in both outdoor and indoor locations, as well as Disney transportation. It is recommended Guests who are not fully vaccinated continue wearing face coverings in all indoor locations, including indoor attractions and theaters and on enclosed transportation.
Please note, face coverings are not permitted while experiencing water slides or in the water.
It seems as though we have been waiting for ages, but the time has officially come! Pre-pandemic character meet and greets are finally back at Disney! You can now run up to some of your favorite Disney characters — like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, and more — and give them a great big hug. And don’t forget to bring your autograph book, because they will also once again be signing for any Guest who asks.
Walt Disney World Resort has been open since the summer of 2020 but, until now, all character interactions have been socially distanced. Any character meals have also been altered, with characters simply walking through the restaurant and waving to Guests as they go by. Disneyland has been open since April 2021, and its character meet and greets and character meals have been much the same.
Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort are not the first Parks to see the return of traditional character meet and greets. Disneyland Paris began allowing pre-pandemic interactions all the way back in early March. That was mainly due to the fact that Guests visiting Disneyland Paris were required to provide either proof of a negative COVID test or proof that they were fully vaccinated. Such a rule was never in place at Walt Disney World or Disneyland.
Character hugs at Disneyland Paris made US Guests jealous, and anxious for Disney to make an announcement that the same thing would happen in its stateside Parks. Not long after Paris started allowing hugs, Disney CFO Christine McCarthy informed fans that hugs would be returning to the US Parks “soon.”
While some characters meet and greets at Walt Disney World will use a traditional standby queue, there will be some that Guests will be allowed to book Lightning Lane access to. Guests can book the Lightning Lane to meet Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall, to meet Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater, and to meet Princess Tiana and a Visiting Princess also at Princess Fairytale Hall. Standby queues will also be used for those Guests who do not wish to book or do not have Disney Genie+.
Disneyland Resort will not be following in the footsteps of Walt Disney World when it comes to character meet and greets. Disneyland Resort will use regular standby queues for all of its character interactions. Disney Genie+ will only be used for rides and attractions.
Anyone who’s watched the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies knows Peter Quill (a.k.a. Star-Lord) loves music more than just about anything. Classic pop tunes are woven into the fabric of the films and characters so much, and there will also be a great playlist for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind when this new attraction debuts May 27 at EPCOT.
When Disney Imagineers were developing this family-thrill coaster, they came up with a list of more than 100 potential songs for the Starjumpers’ onboard sound system. The team rode the attraction over and over again testing how various tracks fit with the spirit and the movement of the coaster. They finally settled on this “Awesome Mix” of six songs, in their classic versions:
“September”
“Disco Inferno”
“Conga”
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World”
“I Ran”
“One Way or Another”
Guests won’t know which track they’ll hear until they actually blast off with the Guardians on an intergalactic chase through time and space. Guests will need all the encouragement they can get, too, because the Guardians are asking for help to stop Eson, the Celestial seen in the image above, from completing a nefarious plan. Eson is powerful, ancient, and seems poised to grab our planet in one hand.
Whatever his intentions, at least the Guardians are on our side – awesome tunes and all. Come help them save the galaxy (again!) beginning May 27 when Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind officially opens at EPCOT as a major milestone in the park’s historic transformation and another big moment in the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration.
Earth Day is almost here and both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort are offering limited-time food and beverage items that are sure to please.
From a Disney Cast Member;
With Earth Day coming up on April 22, both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort are serving up limited-edition delights inspired by the world around us. As we celebrate our beautiful Earth this month, our chefs and mixologists at Disney Parks have put their creativity to the plate and cup with some truly wild treats. These delicious goodies feature some of the world’s most beautiful creatures while embracing the environments they come from.
As part of Disney Planet Possible, we’re dedicated to reducing our environmental footprint, supporting conservation efforts, and finding ways for us all to take part in the magic of nature this Earth Month. Taking action to help our planet this Earth Day – and every day – can help keep our beautiful planet, its creatures, and environments thriving for years to come, and what better way to celebrate than with food! This month, we’re paying homage to some of the Earth’s greatest treasures through culinary delights. From the Honey Bee Cupcake at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park to the Corn on a Cob Succotash at Disneyland Park, both coasts are sharing the love for Mother Earth (and your stomach)! Let’s get to the fun shall we, and by fun, I mean the food. I’m pleased to present to you the Foodie Guide to Earth Day!
Walt Disney World Resort
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Pizzafari and Flame Tree Barbecue (available on Mobile Order through April 28)
Flamingo Cupcake: Strawberry cake filled with strawberry compote and crowned with guava frosting, strawberry crisp pearls, and white-chocolate wings
Dawa Bar
Lion’s Fury: Jungle juice, Red Stag Bourbon Whiskey, Fireball Whiskey Floater, and a fiery glow cube (available through April 28)
Tiger Tail Pale Ale: Celebrating Florida’s tiger swallowtail butterfly, this pale ale features notes of passionfruit, strawberry, and grapefruit (available through April 28)
Dino Diner (available through April 28)
Sea Turtle: Frozen blue raspberry and frozen lemonade with a wave of blue cotton candy on top
Isle of Java (available through April 28)
Red Crowned Cane: Frozen Coke with frozen cherry and a crown of cotton candy
Restaurantosaurus Lounge
Crave the Wave: Refreshing vodka, blue curaçao, lemonade, and a lemon wheel (available through April 28)
Tiger Tail Pale Ale: Celebrating Florida’s tiger swallowtail butterfly, this pale ale features notes of passionfruit, strawberry, and grapefruit (available through April 28)
Creature Comforts and Restaurantosaurus (available on Mobile Order through April 28)
Honey Bee Cupcake: Orange cake, honey Bavarian filling, honey frosting, and a white chocolate honeycomb
Terra Treats(available through April 28)
Loggerhead: Sprite and Granny Smith apple syrup over ice with a gummy worm, sugar lime rim, and souvenir glow cube (non-alcoholic)
Satu’li Canteen (available on Mobile Order through April 28)
Kiwi Margarita: Kiwi Monin syrup with lime juice, sour mix, and Tcorazon Tequila Blanco
Thirsty River Bar
Yeti Sunset: Jack Daniels whiskey, strawberry monin, and lychee lemonade (available through April 28)
Tiger Tail Pale Ale: Celebrating Florida’s tiger swallowtail butterfly, this pale ale features notes of passionfruit, strawberry, and grapefruit (available through April 28)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
The Mara (available on April 22)
Plant (Based) in Boot: Chocolate Spice Cake with Coconut Ganache in a Chocolate Boot (Plant-based)(New)
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
BoardWalk Bakery (available on Mobile Order from April 18 through 22)
Garden Cupcake: Lemon cupcake with a lemon curd filling topped with vanilla buttercream and white chocolate ladybug (New)
Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Park
River Belle Terrace(available April 21 through 25)
Corn on a Cob Succotash: “Butter”-poached corn, edamame purée, and chili oil (Plant-based) (New)
Plant-based Chili & Cornbread Skillet: Chili beans, corn cake, “sour cream,” and green onions (Plant-based) (New)
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
GCH Craftsman Grill (available on Mobile Order through April 30)
Earth Day Hot Dog: Hot dog of the month special featuring plant-based sausage, sauteed spinach, mushrooms, and onions topped with green goddess dressing, edible flowers, and served with fruit (Plant-based) (New)
In addition to these special Earth Day-themed treats, Disney Parks and resorts also feature delicious plant-based offerings year-round! Plant-based options are not just tasty but good for the environment too as they can help reduce one’s carbon footprint and enhance biodiversity! Our Disney chefs have collaborated with ImpossibleTM to bring some tasty options for guests to enjoy while expanding their commitment to putting plants on the plate and into the mouths of foodies in delicious and creative ways. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park offers up the Impossible Spicy Southwestern Burger at Restaurantosaurus, while Liberty Tree Tavern at Magic Kingdom Park features a tasty Impossible Revolutionary Meatloaf! Over at Disneyland Park, a galaxy far, far away has the Felucian Kefta & Hummus Garden Spread at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo and the truly delicious Ronto-less Garden Wrap at Ronto Roasters. And don’t forget the Impossible Banh Mi at Lucky Fortune Cookery at Disney California Adventure park. Try these mouthwatering, and plant-based, items on your next visit!
As you celebrate Earth Day and embrace the beauty of our world, I hope you enjoy these tasty dishes and drinks honoring our planet. And be sure to use #DisneyPlanetPossible to see all that we can do to help our planet and even share your own actions!
On April 4, Disney announced that its newest roller coaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, would be opening on May 27. Cosmic Rewind will be located in the World Discovery area of EPCOT and has taken over the spot of Ellen’s Energy Adventure. The building that Ellen’s Energy Adventure was in has also been transformed into the Xandar Pavilion. The ride will be a one-of-a-kind experience for Guests and will be Disney’s first-ever reverse launch roller coaster.
While Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will officially open to regular Walt Disney World Resort Guests on May 27, there are some Guests who will be able to experience the ride prior to that date. One of those groups is D23 Gold Members. D23 is the official Disney fan club and Gold Members pay $100 per year minimum for their membership.
This exclusive attraction preview will be available on May 15 — nearly two weeks before the ride opens! The cost is $35 per person and spots are limited. Tickets for the event will go on sale on April 12. Having the chance to be one of the first people to ride Cosmic Rewind is very exciting, but your ticket to the event gets you some other incredible perks.
Parking and park admission with park reservation to EPCOT after 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 15, 2022
$20 dining card to enjoy the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival (or other dining location of your choice)
Reserved viewing for Harmonious
Exclusive entry to preview of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Check-in will be open from 3:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., with park admission beginning at 4 p.m. Members are able to explore EPCOT until the reserved viewing area for Harmonious opens at 8 p.m. for the 9 p.m. show. The evening concludes with an opportunity to preview of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, receiving a commemorative gift upon departure.
If you are a D23 Gold Member and are interested in attending this event, there are a few important notes to keep in mind. First, Cosmic Rewind has a strict height requirement of 42 inches. Anyone who does not meet this height requirement will not be able to ride. There will also only be a limited number of tickets available and each D23 Gold Member can purchase up to 4 tickets. D23 has also shared that there will be no merchandise purchasing opportunity at this event, meaning the new Treasures of Xandar store may not be open.
News of the opening of the official opening was exciting to some, but not all that surprising to others. A couple of months ago, Disney’s Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Geoff Morrell tweeted that the Disney coaster would be opening on Memorial Day Weekend. While Morrell deleted the tweet, many took what he said as confirmation since he is so high up in the company.
If you are not yet a D23 Gold Member, but would like to be able to experience the attraction preview, you still have time to become one! You can learn more about D23 Gold Membership by clicking here.
