It might feel a little early to think about the holidays – but if a Disney World party is a part of your plans, now’s the time to start.
At Disney World, the holidays are a serious business. From the moment the clock strikes November 1, it’s out with the pumpkins and orange decor and in with the Christmas trees, lights, and festive snacks.
While Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom all celebrate Christmas to some degree, this year, it’s the first two Parks going big for the holidays. As is tradition, Magic Kingdom will host Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – an after-hours, ticketed event in which Guests can enjoy the likes of Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show, seasonal dance parties, and, of course, free hot cocoa and Christmas cookies.
Over at Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World is introducing a new holiday celebration: Disney Jollywood Nights. While not all the entertainment has been confirmed yet, the party will include an all-new stage show (including The Muppets!) and the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! nighttime spectacular.
Both holiday parties will kick off in mid-November, running until the middle of December for Jollywood Nights and the end of December for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party start at $159 for adults and $149 for Guests aged three to nine, going up to $199 and $189.
Meanwhile, tickets for Disney Jollywood Nights are priced the same for both adults and young Guests, ranging from $159 to $179.
Tickets are now available to purchase for both Jollywood Nights and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on the Walt Disney World Resort website – thankfully, free of the bugs that plagued the sale of Disneyland’s Oogie Boogie Bash last week…
Parties can (and do!) sell out, so we recommend booking your Disney World holidays plans ASAP to avoid disappointment.
The Golden Age of Hollywood has gotten some additions because The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios recently launched its seasonal menu. The culinary team has masterfully put together dishes featuring the freshest of ingredients for the summer and created a menu that will leave Guests and their taste buds wanting more.
This fan-favorite location nestled within Hollywood Boulevard is quite the popular spot, and for good reason. The contemporary American cuisine speaks for itself, and this summer menu is no different. With several delicious additions from the kitchen, your Clients will want to come back again and again to try them all.
Whether they’ve been here before or want to try this restaurant for the first time, The Hollywood Brown Derby has something for everyone to enjoy.
The appetizers have several eats that are packed with flavor. Starting off, we’ve got some seafood options resurfacing. The Crab Louie features crispy olive bread, citrus blend, fried capers, and Louie sauce. For those shrimp fans out there, the Shrimp Cocktail is topped with shaved fennel cucumbers and a traditional cocktail sauce.
For cheese lovers, there are two items that will spark interest. The Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad combines shaved onions, Thai basil, gremolata, and a delicious citrus vinaigrette into a can’t-miss dish, while the Charcuterie Board features the Chef’s selection of cured meats, cheeses, and accompaniments.
For the more adventurous eaters, the Escargot is accompanied by roasted garlic béchamel and crispy prosciutto and the Roasted Bone Marrow is composed of braised beef, pickled mustard seeds, and a fig bread crostini. How delicious do these all sound? And we haven’t even gotten to the main course yet!
The entrée menu is packed with flavorful delights with a variety of options for everyone to enjoy. Let’s start with some new ones for the land lovers out there. The classic Filet Mignon is paired with glazed carrots, potato pave, horseradish cream, and a tasty peppercorn sauce to finish it off. The Lamb Shank is accompanied with summer vegetables, harissa vinaigrette, and nasturtium chermoula.
For Guests that love chicken and dumplings, the new Free-Range Chicken and Dumplings is the dish for them. It brings together these two classics with a lemon-ricotta Gnudi, shishito cream, and a gooseberry jus. If Guests like pork, the recently added Grilled Pork is right up their alley with a mouthwatering lavender-sage polenta and local corn salsa, complete with a huckleberrybarbecue sauce. Now that’s a dish!
The seafood aficionados have a couple options to choose from as well – the new Sustainable Fish and the Seafood Cioppino. The Sustainable Fish with white bean ragout, derby summer vegetables, and roasted tomato emulsion is a lovely addition to the menu while the Seafood Cioppino brings together favorites from the sea with shrimp, sea scallops, seasonal fish, mussels, a toasted baguette, and aromatic tomato broth.
Last, but certainly not least for the new items, we have The Hollywood Brown Derby’s latest rendition of a classic comfort food dish – Shepherd’s Pie. This option combines roasted garlic mashed potatoes, mushrooms, peas, corn, and carrot Romesco into a plate that will warm your soul and ignite your taste buds. Did we mention this one is plant-based?
For those repeat diners, don’t worry, because some fan-favorites are still here to stay for both lunch and dinner. The Famous Cobb Salad is a classic, and for good reason. This famous dish is made up of spit-roasted turkey, bacon, egg, tomatoes, blue cheese, avocado, and a classic dressing. If Guests want to enhance this dish even more, they can add chicken or shrimp.
The sweet tooths out there will be pleased to know that the sweet staple, the Grapefruit Cake, isn’t going anywhere. This Brown Derby original combines a moist vanilla sponge cake, grapefruit syrup, and cream cheese icing into a dessert that’s as delicious as it is beautiful.
We can’t wait for your Clients to drop on into The Hollywood Brown Derby this summer to try their fair share of these eats!
Beginning May 26, to celebrate the opening of Disney’s film, “The Little Mermaid,” guests will be able to visit with Ariel from the new live action story “The Little Mermaid” at Disneyland Resort and at Walt Disney Presents in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort.
The Little Mermaid” film is a reimagining of the 1989 animated film with enhanced depth and dimension, including additional character backstory and motivations, new and reimagined characters, and unique elements that expand the world of the original film. We’re always looking for ways to build connection through the power of our stories, and we are excited for new and existing fans to enjoy Ariel from both the animated and live action stories this summer at Disney Parks.
Guests can use the My Disney Experience app to find character locations for both Ariel from the live action story and Ariel from the animated story.
And just in time, Disney PhotoPass Service is launching numerous photo opportunities tomorrow in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! We know some guests are off world and can’t travel at lightspeed to Batuu by tomorrow, so these experiences will continue to be available after the celebration ends. Check them out below.
New Holopuck Magic Shots
Located deep in the Outer Rim near Wild Space, the remote planet of Batuu has become a thriving destination for scoundrels and smugglers, luring bounty hunters from across the galaxy. If guests have come to track down their next bounty, select Image Scanners (known on our planet as Disney PhotoPass photographers) can offer a holopuck that will reveal the details of their next target.
BB-8 Magic Shot
This is the droid you’re looking for. Given the whispers about sightings of individuals associated with the Resistance around Black Spire Outpost, it’s no surprise that guests can spot this loveable and loyal astromech in their image.
Darksaber
Created more than a thousand years ago by Tarre Vizsla (the first Mandalorian to become a Jedi Knight), the Darksaber is an ancient weapon with a long and legendary history. It has been wielded by many beings over the years. Starting tomorrow, this blade can be found across from Oga’s Cantina after dark. Just remember the wise words Kanan Jarrus once shared about this lightsaber: “That sword is old, heavy, but powerful. Respect its strength.”
BD-1 Magic Shot
Never underestimate droids, especially those that beep in the face of danger. Be sure guests capture a scan with this droid companion before setting out on their next adventure.
While on planet, guests may never know what other adventures they might document with the help of Disney PhotoPass Service. A great way for guests to capture a variety of content is to ask each Image Scanner they encounter what special scans they can offer.
May the 4th be with you, always.
*With the purchase of Disney Genie+ service, Walt Disney World guests can access many Disney PhotoPass Lenses in the My Disney Experience app as soon as they enter the park. Annual Passholders can access many Disney PhotoPass Lenses in the My Disney Experience app starting on the later of March 20, 2023, or the first use of their Annual Pass. Select Disney PhotoPass Lenses are accessible only within designated areas of Walt Disney World Resort. Other Disney PhotoPass Lenses will remain accessible in the My Disney Experience app until 5:59 a.m. on the 45th day after the day on which the Disney Genie+ service was used or, for Annual Passholders, until the expiration or cancellation of the Annual Pass. Certain states and localities are excluded. Annual Passholder offerings are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Many Disney PhotoPass Lenses use technology that detects the coordinates of key points on a guest’s face and/or hands and may be used only by guests 18 years of age and older who have consented to use of this technology. Therefore, guests unable to provide such consent, as well as guests under 18 years of age, will have fewer lenses available to use. To access Disney PhotoPass Lenses, an eligible mobile device with the My Disney Experience app with access to the device’s camera and location is required. Use of Disney PhotoPass Lenses is subject to the Terms and Conditions. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.
The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser has been making waves since its inception at D23 Expo 2017 in Anaheim, Southern California. Then, in March last year, the 2-day, 2-night adventure officially opened and welcomed Guests onboard the immersive world of the Chandrilla Star Line’s Halcyon spacecraft.
But, its cost has caused significant backlash and feedback, leading Disney Parks to enact a major change to the pricey experience.
Walt Disney World Resort (Orlando, Central Florida) welcomes millions of Guests each year. Even though The Walt Disney Company has divided opinion in recent years with the introduction of the paid FastPass service, Disney Genie+, and the continuing use of the polarizing Park Pass reservation system and its Park Hopper attribute, Disney fans flock to the Resort for their dose of Disney magic. Though, some say that magic is gone and will “never again” return.
But with over 25 Disney Resort hotels spread over the giant theme park estate, Guests can harness their own wallets to match their chosen Disney experience. From Value Resorts like Disney’s Pop Century Resort to Moderate offerings like Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort to Deluxe hotels like Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney’s Contemporary Resort, vacations to Disney World can vary quite significantly.
One stay at Disney World sent shockwaves through the fandom when it debuted last year. The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser opened in the Disney’s Hollywood Studios area last March to mixed reviews. While some applauded its immersive adventure element and feat of Walt Disney Imagineering, most blasted its astronomical price, which sees starting prices for a standard cabin beginning around $5,000.
The 2-day, 2-night adventure welcomes Guests to take part in the storytelling of the Star Wars universe, even going so far as to link Guests up with adventures in the Black Spire Outpost, AKA Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. As part of the experience, Guests will embark on a trip to Batuu at Hollywood Studios where they will be able to ride iconic attractions like Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, as well as take in the local delicacies and beverages at Oga’s Cantina or build a lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop. They may even encounter some Star Wars characters like Kylo Ren along the way.
When the Halcyon launched, voyages could be booked throughout the year on most days — weekdays and weekends. Since, the company has drastically reduced the number of voyages, seemingly due to the lack of bookings from Guests. Just recently, Disney announced a huge Annual Passholder discount for the following voyages:
April 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29
May 1, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 19, 21, 23, 25, 29 and 31
June 2, 4, 6, 14, 18, 20, 24, 26 and 28
And that Annual Passholder discount has been extended with an additional voyage added on July 2, 2023.
But that is not the only change that has happened for the Star Wars: Galatic Starcruiser. Disney Parks have just revealed another major pricing change for the costly experience, seemingly in an effort to attract more Guests to the halls of the Halcyon to experience the galaxy far, far away.
Per WDW Info, Disney Visa Cardmembers are now able to book a Galactic Starcruiser voyage at the Disney Park with a 30% discount, much like the Annual Passholders were offered. The dates of these reduced voyages are:
For full terms and conditions, head to the Walt Disney World website.
The Star Wars: Galatic Starcruiser offers experiences like the Crown of Corellia Dining Room, the Sublight Lounge, Lightsaber Training, and Bridge Training.
The discount announcement comes as Disney CEO Bob Iger and the Walt Disney World Resort sue Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over his government’s retaliation to their views on his controversial Florida Parental Rights in Education bill and the subsequent fallout, including the dismantling of Disney’s special district Reedy Creek.
