New Experience Announced for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Following the closure of Star Wars: Galatic Starcruiser, Disney continues looking at ways to appeal to Star Wars fans by creating unique experiences throughout Disney Parks. Starting this month, Disney is bringing one new experience to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Trips to Walt Disney World are full of magical moments. These special moments happen daily at Walt Disney World, from the first time seeing Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom to the screams of excitement on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Star Wars Galaxy's Edge

Guests looking to capture those special moments with their loved ones can do so through Disney’s Capture Your Moment service. Capture Your Moment is a 20-minute photo session with a Disney Photopass Photographer.

During their photo session, the trained photographers take guests around Disney Park and capture magical moments. Star Wars fans will be thrilled to learn that they will soon be able to capture magical moments throughout Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

On January 17, guests can book a Capture Your Moment session specifically for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge for a session beginning on Janurary 24. Sessions cost $99 for 20 minutes; however, guests can book back-to-back sessions for longer experiences.

Star Wars Galaxy's Edge

Oustanding professional pictures will be able to be taken in front of the Millennium Falcon, First Order Shuttle, at the Black Spire Outpost, or among the other unique backdrops that make Batuu so special.

Not only will guests be able to enjoy a private photography session in this extraordinary land at Walt Disney World, but the photographers will also have props such as lightsabers for guests to use during their session. These props will take these photos to the next level.

Guests can book Capture Your Moment sessions 60 days in advance. This is highly recommended, as spots are limited.

Capture Your Moment sessions are also available at Magic Kingdom, throughout World Showcase in EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Toy Story Land, Hollywood Boulevard, and Sunset Boulevard.

When booking your session, remember that the $99 does not include the cost of the pictures. Guests booking a Capture Your Moment session should also include Disney’s Memory Maker in their Walt Disney World vacation package. All of their pictures throughout their vacation, along with those taken during their private session, will be included with the purchase of Memory Maker.

Capture Your Moment is a beautiful way to add extra magic to your trip. Get those outfits ready and book your next Walt Disney World vacation session.

Disney’s Toy Story Land Restaurant Undergoes Changes

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Hollywood Studios

A delicious dose of the Toy Story film franchise has landed at Walt Disney World Resort’s Hollywood Studios theme park. If you haven’t already had a chance, it’s time to join the toys in Andy’s room for divine barbecue meats and eats at Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Toy Story Land.

The popular Disney restaurant has recently experienced a few changes, including menu updates that you’ll want to check out below.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Entree

Guests can find Roundup Rodeo BBQ near the entrance to Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The restaurant is close to Slinky Dog Dash and Toy Story Mania, two of the Park’s popular attractions. For additional dining in Toy Story Land, Woody’s Lunch Box offers a more casual Quick Service dining experience.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ is a Table Service dining location. This means that advanced dining reservations are required to enjoy a meal at this restaurant. Guests are able to make reservations online or through the My Disney Experience app up to 60 days before their visit. We highly recommend looking for a reservation as soon as possible since this is a popular new dining experience.

You will feel like a toy while dining at Roundup Rodeo BBQ. The immersive theming brings you into Andy’s toy rodeo, complete with everything from train sets to Western towns. Though this is not a character dining restaurant, characters from your favorite Toy Story films are represented throughout the decor and the scenes you see throughout the restaurant.

Disney Cast Members add to the fun by addressing you as toys and helping you jump into the rodeo while you dine. Don’t forget to freeze if you hear Andy coming!

Menu Options: 2024 UPDATE!

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Drinks

The restaurant serves family-style BBQ entrees for lunch and dinner. All meals start with The Prospector’s Homemade Cheddar Biscuits with Sweet Pepper Jelly.

If you’ve dined at Roundup Rodeo below, take note as guests were formerly invited to enjoy three different salads, including the Rootin’ Tootin Tomato Salad, Rex’s Romaine and Kale Salad, and Wheezy’s Watermelon Salad. In recent changes for 2024, guests will only be provided with two salads, including Rootin’ Tootin Tomato Salad and Wheezy’s Watermelon Salad.

Then, guests can choose a platter of house-smoked BBQ meats or Trixie’s Plant-based Trio for their main entrees.

Another update however for 2024 has been made with the side options. Previously, guests could choose four side options from a list of eight selections, including Mean Old Potato Salad, The Married Spuds, The Claw! Veggie Slaw, Force Field Fried Pickles, Campfire-roasted Vegetables, Slinky Doooooooooog’s Mac & Cheese, Buckin’ Baked Beans, or Cowpoke Corn on the Cob. Now, guests will be provided with five sides without selection, including Potato Barrels, The Claw! Veggie Slaw, Slinky Doooooooooog’s Mac & Cheese, Buckin’ Baked Beans, and Cowpoke Corn on the Cob.

Finally, choose a dessert from Bo’s Lemon and Blueberry Cheesecake, Billy’s Chocolate Silk Pie, Goat’s Apple Pie, Gruff’s Peach-Strawberry Pie, and Cupcake à la Forky.

The restaurant offers allergy-friendly menus for all courses, but guests must speak to a Cast Member upon arrival about their allergy request. The complete menus can be found on the My Disney Experience app.

Guests and cast member at Roundup rodeo BBQ

Beginning January 9, 2024, this dining location will accept the Disney Dining Plan. This means that Guests using the Disney Dining Plan during their visit will be able to redeem a Table Service meal credit at this restaurant. Please note that Guests using the Disney Dining Plan will still be required to have an advanced dining reservation.

Disney World Clarifies Its Free Dining Plan Offer

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

Disney World is clarifying the offer of free Disney Dining plans for Disney+ subscribers that the company first shared last Tuesday, and guests might not be happy with some of the newly-released details.

On Tuesday, the Walt Disney World Resort announced a brand-new promotional offer that includes free Disney Dining plans for Disney+ subscribers, following the announcement in May 2023 that the Disney Dining plan was scheduled to return to Disney World on January 9, 2024. Bookings including the new dining plans were available as of May 31, 2023.

This week, Disney World shared news about a new offer for Disney+ subscribers who purchase select vacation packages at Disney World. Per the announcement, the offer applies to non-discounted 4-night, 4-day vacation packages that include a room at select Disney Resort Hotels, as well as theme park tickets with the Park Hopper option added on. The promotional offer extends to packages purchased for travel between July 1, 2024 and September 30, 2024.

dinoland usa entrance

But on Wednesday, Disney World made another announcement, this time clarifying the specifics about eligible stays that will net guests the free Disney Dining plans–and which Disney Dining plan is available to guests, depending on where they’re staying on property.

The following points are the highlights of Disney World’s clarification:

  • Guests who select a Disney Value or Moderate Resort Hotel or The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort will receive the Quick-Service Dining plan, but they can pay to upgrade to the Disney Dining plan.
Art of Animation
  • Guests who book their stays at a Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort hotels will receive the Disney Dining Plan.
  • Guests who book at The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort will not be eligible for the free Disney Dining plan promotion.
  • Guests who book three-bedroom grand villas at Disney Deluxe Villa Resort hotels are also excluded from this offer.
  • The free Disney Dining plan promotion is only available to Disney+ subscribers in the U.S. and Canada. Subscribers in other countries are not eligible for the promotion.
disney plus star wars content streaming
  • It’s worth restating that in order to receive the free Disney Dining plan promotion, guests must include the park hopper option with their theme park tickets.

The following locations are available to guests as part of the Disney Dining plan. They are categorized by Disney World theme park. A notation of two asterisks (**) is included next to the name of each restaurant that requires two table-service credits.

Magic Kingdom Locations

  • Be Our Guest Restaurant**
  • Cinderella’s Royal Table**
  • The Crystal Palace
  • The Diamond Horseshoe
  • Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen
  • Liberty Tree Tavern
  • The Plaza Restaurant
  • Tony’s Town Square Restaurant

EPCOT Locations

  • Akershus Royal Banquet Hall**
  • Biergarten Restaurant
Biergarten Restaurant
  • Coral Reef Restaurant
  • Garden Grill Restaurant
  • La Hacienda de San Angel
  • Le Cellier Steakhouse**
  • Nine Dragons Restaurant
  • Rose & Crown Dining Room
  • San Angel Inn Restaurante
San Angel Inn Restaurante

  • Spice Road Table
  • Teppan Edo
  • Tokyo Dining
  • Tutto Italia Ristorante
  • Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

  • 50’s Prime Time Cafe
  • Hollywood & Vine
  • The Hollywood Brown Derby**
  • Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
  • Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Guests and cast member at Roundup rodeo BBQ
  • Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

  • Rainforest Cafe
  • Tiffins Restaurant**
  • Tusker House Restaurant
  • Yak & Yeti Restaurant

Disney Springs

  • The BOATHOUSE**
  • Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’
  • City Works Eatery & Pour House
  • The Edison
The edison bar
  • Enzo’s Hideaway
  • House of Blues Restaurant & Bar
  • Jaleo by Jose Andres**
  • Mario & Enzo’s Ristorante
  • Morimoto Asia**
  • Paddlefish**
  • Paradiso 37
  • Planet Hollywood
  • Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant
  • Rainforest Cafe
  • Splitsville Dining Room
  • Teralina Crafted Italian
  • T-REX
T-REX Restaurant

**Requires two Table-Service meal credits

Additional restaurants located at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels are also available to guests with the Disney Dining plan.

Disney World Area Locked down, Ride Closed after Reported Fire Causes Evacuation

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

A large section of Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios park has been blocked off to guests after a possible fire caused a ride evacuation.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been grappling with less-than-ideal pushback after its expensive ticketed Jollywood Nights holiday event failed to wow fans recently. Now, it looks like it also has to contend with a popular ride reportedly catching on fire.

DisneyWorldTom has shared a video on Twitter/X reporting that a firm alarm evacuation has closed the entire area of Hollywood Studios surrounding the fan-favorite Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith attraction.

BREAKING: Fire alarm evacuation at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith closes entire area at Hollywood Studios

As it stands now, the ride is listed as “temporarily closed” on the My Disney Experience application. No further information has been provided. We have no idea the extent of the reported fire or how long the park section will be closed to guests.

The video footage shows Disney cast members closing and locking down gates to the park section to prevent anyone from accessing the area. This could be a precaution, as Disney is very proactive regarding dangers or incidents inside the park. Nevertheless, the situation is shocking and scary.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is a roller coaster that opened in 1999 and was created in collaboration with the iconic rock band Aerosmith.

The ride is known for its high-speed launches, inversions, and synchronized onboard audio, featuring hit songs from Aerosmith. The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster has been a fan-favorite due to its unique ride experience combined with the integration of Aerosmith’s music.

The coaster accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour in a matter of seconds. This launch experience is what keeps fans coming back for the thrills. The twists, turns, and inversions experienced in the dark during the ride are synchronized with the soundtrack, creating an immersive and adrenaline-pumping experience.

Over the years, there has been speculation and desire among fans for a retheme of the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Some have suggested updating the ride to feature a different band or theme, possibly to keep the attraction relevant and fresh.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster has had its share of shutdowns and accidents over the years. However, a fire on a fan-favorite ride involving guests moving at high speeds is a little unnerving to think about. An evacuation from a coaster that goes upside down also adds an extra sense of dread to the experience.

Here’s hoping no one was injured, everyone made it off the ride safely, and the sirens were just an accident or false alarm.

Unsupervised Child TRAMPLED After Putting Disney World Character in Danger

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

The number one rule at any Disney theme park (or any public place) is always to watch your children. Kids are known to be accident-prone, and this problem can cause chaos for unsuspecting Disney character performers. One unsupervised child recently put himself and Toy Story‘s Woody in danger at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Excitement turned to chaos as the unaware Woody character performer waved to the crowd. Toy Story‘s famous sheriff soon found himself desperately trying not to trip as a child clung to his waist, ending with a near miss and a kid on the ground, eyes filled with tears.

Toy Story Popcorn Bucket

Let’s set the scene a little bit. Toy Story Land, located within Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, is a popular themed area that transports visitors into the world of Pixar’s Toy Story film franchise.

As you step into this land, you’ll immediately feel like you’ve been shrunken down to the size of toys, surrounded by oversized toys and scenery. It’s also a place where the beloved characters from the movies come to life.

Standout attractions in Toy Story Land include Slinky Dog Dash, Alien Swirling Saucers, and the endearing Toy Story Mania. This 4D shooting game ride allows you to test your skills at various carnival games, making it a hit with competitive guests.

While the experiences in Toy Story Land are nothing short of magical, it’s worth noting that the popularity of these attractions can lead to crowded walkways, especially during peak visiting hours. The compact space can become quite narrow when large crowds gather.

Iconic characters like Woody, Jessie, and Buzz sometimes appear on these popular walking paths as they move to greet guests at their specific locations. While the drumming green army men cavalcade can easily navigate these crowded areas, it is another story for characters like Woody.

Recently, Woody narrowly avoided a fall when an unattended child suddenly rushed him on his route through Toy Story Land. Let’s be blunt. Sheriff Woody does not have the best peripheral vision, and a small child can easily elude his eyes if he isn’t expecting them.

With no parents in sight, the kid raced into Woody’s path and latched shockingly onto the performer. Shocked by the sudden situation, Woody did his best to maintain his balance, but the child took the fall in the chaos.

Impressively, Woody avoided directly injuring or stepping on the child while evading a dangerous fall. However, the boy was shaken up and beginning to cry by the end of the video.

@all__thingsdisney

#duet with @rebecalavourasPARENTS!!!!! HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING????? #disney #disney100 #disneyfail

♬ som original – rebecalavouras

Furthermore, a random bystander and character attendant seem to be the only ones who respond quickly to the situation. By the end of the footage shared by user All Things Disney on TikTok, no parent or guardian ever entered the chaos. The caption of the video questions whether parents have learned to watch their children at Disney World.

woody, jessie, and buzz face characters

Disney character performers go through training to handle many situations, but they are still at the mercy of attendants and responsible guests for a lot of interactions. This is why it is important to always watch your kids around them. Accidents do happen. However, incidents such as this can be avoided if people are mindful and respectful.

Here’s hoping the unsupervised child wasn’t injured or traumatized by the incident. Furthermore, we have confidence that the boy’s parents will be more aware in the future to avoid another Disney World character accident. Thankfully, this one seems to have ended relatively fine, all things considered.

All views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect Disney Dining’s personal views on Disney Parks operations.