Disney Gets Rid Annual Pass Virtual Queue

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

Disney World Annual Passes have been on sale for almost a week. That sentence alone is shocking to us. At Disneyland, Magic Keys sell out within hours. We fully expected a similar situation on the East Coast.

Disney has limited how many Annual Passes it will sell. In the past, sales were basically unlimited. You could buy a Disney World Annual Pass anytime you wanted. After the pandemic, however, Disney said they had temporarily paused new Annual Pass sales. Since then, they have brought them back for very brief windows of time.

On April 20, 2023 Walt Disney World Annual Passes finally went back on sale! This means that once again Disney’s most loyal guests can access Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom when they liked. With the water parks upgrade, they can access Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon anytime they like as well.

Disney fans flooded the website the day Annual Passes went back on sale. In fact, so many flocked to the site to but that the website crashed more than once. Many waited in a virtual queue for hours to buy their Pass, with some saying they’d waited more than 5 hours.

Disney didn’t announce whether the passes would be limited or not until the day they went on sale. Midway through the day they updated the website to say that due to overwhelming demand, they expected some or all pass types to become unavailable. However, nearly a week in all Pass levels remain available.

At the time of this writing, not only can you still buy your Disney World Annual Pass but you can do so without a long wait. After the initial rush died down, Disney removed the virtual queue requirement to buy. When we checked the website, we were able to add an Annual Pass to our cart with no wait. This is great news for anyone unable to buy their Pass last Thursday.

Even though the initial surge to buy passes has died down, you won’t want to delay if a you plan to become a Disney World Annual Passholder. No one knows just how many passes have been bought or how many are left available. If you wait, there is no guarantee you’ll be able to make your purchase.You cab purchase online on your My Disney Experience account, at any Disney Park or Disney Springs.

Disney Reseller Caught Redhanded

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

Disney popcorn buckets are a new trend with Guests, and resellers have taken notice. Recently, however, one reseller was caught red-handed with the newest popcorn bucket.

Disney World is known as “The Most Magical Place on Earth.” Being the most magical place on earth, Guests tend to think they deserve greatness such as short waits, no errors, and speedy service. Disney World is home to four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Each Disney Park includes something for all Guests.

Disney World has just finished celebrating 50 years and, now, the company is moving forward with celebrating 100 years. Guests have spotted new merchandise and signs about the 100-year celebration, which will be held at EPCOT.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Park Entrance

Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, there is also a major celebration going on as the theme park is celebrating 25 years. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to a massive amount of different animals and thrilling attractions. Guests can get up close and personal with many animals, thanks to the Kilimanjaro Safaris. Disney World Guests looking for a minute to relax can enjoy shows such as Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!, or Festival of the Lion King. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Guests can also explore Pandora, which is based on the Avatar franchise.

simba popcorn buckets

Guests have started to go crazy over Disney World popcorn buckets. In recent years, the Figment Popcorn Bucket absolutely broke the internet when Guests waited in line more than eight hours for the chance to get their hands on the adorable dragon at EPCOT. Since that point, there have been a few other popcorn buckets and sippers that have been popular among Disney Park fans, but they have yet to reach the popularity of that Figment bucket.

That has yet to stop many resellers from trying their best to get their hands on quite a few popcorn buckets, including the newest one, modeled after Pumbaa from The Lion King.

This new Pumbaa bucket just was released on April 22, 2023, and Guests have already shown a craze for it.  In a social media post, Guests caught a popcorn bucket reseller red-handed with a handful of Pumbaa popcorn buckets.

How many more trips is he going to make to the parking lot

This Guest may not be a reseller, but normally, when someone buy several popcorn buckets at a time, you see them available for sell on third-party sites pretty soon thereafter.

Disney Releases Dates for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Happy Halfway to Halloween! From April 20-23, Disney Park is celebrating #HalfwaytoHalloween, and to kick off, we’ve got some big news on the super popular Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. We got party dates and when tickets go on sale! 

It’s Halfway to Halloween here at Walt Disney World Resort and, in celebration of the wicked occasion, I’m excited to share that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will return to Magic Kingdom Park late this summer and will run through this fall. Get ready for a spooktacular celebration with plenty of tricks and treats when the series of parties kicks off August 11.

With spellbinding entertainment, favorite Disney characters dressed in their Halloween best and more, celebrate the most haunting time of the year at Walt Disney World Resort. This limited-capacity, nighttime event starts at 7 p.m. and allows guests to experience shorter wait times on attractions, themed food and beverage and more. Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green can purchase tickets starting April 27, and tickets will be available to all guests starting May 2. The event dates are:

  • August: 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29
  • September: 1, 4, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29
  • October: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31
  • November: 1

In honor of #HalfwayToHalloween, check out some of the most ghoulish moments to look forward to when this guest-favorite event returns.

Watch a Ghostly Promenade with “Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade”

It’s good to be bad, and your favorite Disney villains are back to stride down Main Street, U.S.A., alongside Disney heroes, the iconic Haunted Mansion graveyard diggers and other favorite characters. You may even spot some ghoulish new faces this year.

Get the Party Startled With “Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular”

Jack-o-lanterns aren’t the only ‘Jack’ at Walt Disney World this Halloween! The Pumpkin King, a.k.a. Jack Skellington, will once again host the must-see nighttime spectacular, “Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular.” Featuring projections, special effects and lighting paired with fireworks, music and iconic Disney characters, you won’t want to miss this!

Trick-or-Treat Yourself to Candy and Sweets

M&M’S, SKITTLES, and SNICKERS, OH MY! Guests can satisfy their sweet tooth at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party by stopping by trick-or-treating locations throughout Magic Kingdom Park.

See a Spellbinding Spectacle With the Sanderson Sisters    

The Sanderson Sisters, stars of the iconic “Hocus Pocus” films, will unite for an adventure and call on their comrades to summon the ultimate “Hocus Pocus” Party Potion during the “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular” stage show at Cinderella Castle.

Also during the party, you may have the opportunity to experience some of your favorite attractions including Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the newly opened TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise. TRON Lightcycle / Run will use a virtual queue* during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, allowing guests to enjoy all the festivities while they wait to enter the Grid. Stay tuned for more details!

You won’t want to miss the hair-raising happenings at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this year, so be sure to get your tickets. Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green can purchase tickets starting April 27, and tickets will be available to all guests starting May 2. Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more exciting details about all the scream-worthy surprises in store as Disney Parks celebrate #HalfwayToHalloween.

*Virtual queues are limited and subject to availability, times are subject to change, and joining a virtual queue does not guarantee entrance to any experience.

Dates and Pricing

Emptiest Day Since Pandemic

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

This time of year, the Parks are usually busier than ever. Guests flock to Walt Disney World Resort to spend their spring break and school breaks. Easter weekend is also another popular time for Disney fans to make a quick trip to the Parks. This is the reason why Guests entering the Parks were shocked to see how empty they were this time of year.

Nearly All Rides at WDW Under 30 Minutes in Wait Time

Usually, when you visit Walt Disney World Resort this time of year, you can expect big crowds and long lines. That was not the case for Guests entering the Parks who were instead met with a nearly vacant property. This weekend was also a race weekend at Walt Disney World, and even that did not make much of a shift to the crowd numbers.

One Disney fan posted on Reddit that they notices some insanely low wait times at the Parks. He attached a screenshot that showed that nearly all rides in Disney’s Hollywood Studios were under 35 minutes to ride. This is especially shocking for rides such as Slinky Dog Dash, which are usually popular. One fan even commented that they saw Star Wars Rise of the Resistance at a 10-minute wait time.

Theme Park reporter Scott Gustin added some further insight into this phenomenon on Twitter. He did some research through Thrill Data, where he discovered that Sunday, April 16, was the slowest Park day since October 1, 2021. He concluded that Sunday was therefore also the slowest day of Genie+ sales since October 19, 2021.

This entire situation is quite shocking from a fan’s perspective. Clearly, the Spring Break crowds are gone for good this season. If you are located close to Central Florida, now is the time the book a last-minute trip to Walt Disney World Resort.

Halfway to Halloween Kicks Off This Week at Disney Parks!

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

Welcome, foolish mortals, to this year’s Disney Parks Halfway to Halloween celebration! Spring has sprung, which means the countdown to spooky season has officially begun and #HalfwaytoHalloween is underway at Disney. This week on Disney Travel News and our Disney Travel Professionals social channels, we’re celebrating all things Halloween with exciting news and content from Disney Parks around the world and a full celebration of the fan-favorite attraction the Haunted Mansion, plus limited-time specialty food and beverage at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.

To begin your journey into the boundless realm of the supernatural, be sure to check out the trailer for Walt Disney Studios’ “Haunted Mansion” that premiers in theaters July 28. This comically creepy adventure is inspired by the classic theme park attraction and tells the story of a woman and her son (Rosario Dawson and Chase Dillon) who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts (Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, LaKeith Stanfield and Tiffany Haddish) to help rid their home of supernatural squatters.

Whether your Clients are at one of our parks, on a Disney Cruise Line ship or celebrating at home, there will be something for everyone to celebrate Halfway to Halloween this year. Join 999 happy haunts for this spellbinding celebration and follow along all week to see how to join in on the frightful fun.