Disney Announces New MagicBand+

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

In the long list of technological innovations that Disney has introduced over the years to enhance the guest experience at Walt Disney World, the introduction of MagicBands is certainly up toward the top of the list. We love using them! This morning, Disney announced the introduction of a new generation of MagicBands that adds brand new functionality and takes interactivity to an entirely new level.

Innovation is essential to The Walt Disney Company story, dating back to its inception nearly a century ago. As Walt Disney once said, “We’ll always be introducing and testing and demonstrating new materials and new systems.” Well, that promise will come true once again next year when Walt Disney World Resort releases our next-generation wearable technology, MagicBand+.

The original MagicBand was introduced in 2013 at Walt Disney World, making the guest experience in our theme parks and resorts more convenient and hands-free for things like park and guest room entry, retail and dining, Disney PhotoPass and more. MagicBand+ will retain those popular features and add functionality that unlocks new moments of magic for you.

After you enter a theme park, MagicBand+ will come alive at various times with color-changing lights, haptic vibrations, and gesture recognition. The wearable will allow you to engage with favorite Disney moments in new ways, including:

    • Play like a bounty hunter in a galaxy far, far away and find virtual bounties throughout Black Spire Outpost in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
    • Interact with the “Disney Fab 50 Character Collection,” the golden sculptures spread throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks.
    • Experience nighttime spectaculars in a new way as you see your band light up and complement the magic in the skies, including the new “Harmonious” at EPCOT and “Disney Enchantment” at Magic Kingdom Park.

MagicBand+ will be available for purchase beginning next year, including a discounted, pre-arrival price for Disney Resort hotel guests as well as new and renewing Walt Disney World Annual Passholders. Current MagicBands will continue to be available, too, along with the complimentary Disney MagicMobile service that extends MagicBand features, such as park entry, to smart devices.

MagicBand+ will help immerse you in Disney stories and connect with characters you love like never before. We’ll have more to share about this exciting new technology in the future. And be sure to check out all our coverage of the Walt Disney World 50th anniversary, because “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” begins tomorrow!

Opening Show Returning to Magic Kingdom?

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Live entertainment at Walt Disney World has been hard to find in the last year since the parks reopened in July 2020. Only a handful of shows have returned. Thankfully, it appears another fan-favorite may be about to return, just in time for the 50th-anniversary celebration.

Let the Magic Begin is a five-minute welcome show at Magic Kingdom. The show, which has not been operating since March 2020, showcases many favorite characters and ends with Mickey and Minnie welcoming guests to the park and wishing them a great day. While the Walt Disney World Website lists “Let the Magic Begin” as temporarily unavailable, showtimes are now listed beginning October 1! In the photo below, the time is listed at 7:55 pm, but we’re sure that’s just a typo since it’s the show that opens the park. The park opens at 8:00 am on Friday and 9:00 am on Saturday, so the times listed are 5 minutes before park opening, just as before. While there has been no official announcement regarding the show, the show times on the website certainly indicate it is coming back and the timing seems to make sense as well.

No word has been given if the show will be updated for the 50th-anniversary celebration. Mickey and the gang will be wearing new celebration outfits, so we expect to see those characters in celebration outfits at the very least.

We’ll be there on October 1 and we’re crossing our fingers that our day starts out with Let the Magic Begin!

Tune-In This Friday To “The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World” on ABC

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Via DisneyDestinations

Get ready for a special unlike anything you’ve ever seen from Disney Parks! This Friday “The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World” airs on ABC and you won’t want to miss it. The primetime special takes viewers on a fascinating journey of Walt Disney World Resort from its origins to its development over time to the impact the Resort has had on pop culture to a special look into the future of the Resort. This riveting story is told through incredible interviews with celebrities, athletes, Disney Imagineers, and Disney executives and cast members past and present. We asked the interviewees to describe Walt Disney World in one word; check out what they had to say:

Hosted by Disney Legend and moderator of ABC’s “The View,” Whoopi Goldberg, the two-hour program will also feature spectacular visuals and musical performances from Christina Aguilera and Halle Bailey in front of the legendary Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park, accompanied by the renowned Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. We are excited to share a behind the scenes look at the making of these iconic performances:

This special is produced by ABC News and Disney Parks. Tune in this Friday October 1 at 8/7c on ABC, stream on Hulu starting October 2, or watch on Disney+ starting October 8.

Failed Disney Proposal Video Goes Viral

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World IS the most magical place on earth, so if your better half is a Disney fan, it only makes sense to ask the big question in a beautiful Disney Theme Park. While you never know what TikTok video will go viral next, this one has us feeling all the emotions! A video has recently gone viral with roughly 3.3 million views as you see a failed attempt at a Magic Kingdom proposal. But hold up! A second video that seems to have been forgotten with 440,000 views follows it up to show a magical proposal that all works out in the end.

What’s the most popular place for a Walt Disney World proposal? You guess it! Right in front of the stunning Cinderella Castle. It’s last, the bluish-purplish hues are showing all around the Cinderella Castle hub, and now is the perfect time to drop down to one knee. Unfortunately, you’ll see in this video posted by @chizko7 on TikTok, that has the gentleman prepares to ask his Princess to marry him, she moves on without noticing him.

@chizko7

#disneyworld #magickingdom2021 #orlandoflorida #cuplelove #failed #fypシ゚viral #tiktok #sayyessayno #princess #July9 #firsttry #ring #toxica #proposal

♬ Oh No – Kreepa

BUT WAIT! Thankfully, there is more because you know us Disney fans like a happy ending! If first, you don’t succeed, try again, right? Check out the second video below for “part 2” of the proposal.

@chizko7

#disneyworld #magickingdom2021 #orlando #couplelove #fypシ゚viral #tiktok #sayyessayno #princess #July9 #secondtry #ring #toxica #proposal #truelove

♬ Surrender – Natalie Taylor

Main Street Confectionery To Reopen Soon

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Main Street Confectionery at Magic Kingdom has been closed and undergoing refurbishment. Disney has announced its reopening date and it’s just in time for the 50th-anniversary celebration!

Get ready for some news that will make your sweet tooth happy: the Main Street Confectionery hosted by Mars Wrigley is reopening on September 29 at Magic Kingdom Park, just in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort!

From a Disney Cast Member;

With new interactive opportunities to customize your confections and a fresh new look throughout, the Main Street Confectionery is your go-to spot for delicious treats. It’s also where you can see confectionery magic being made by hand.

When you step into this charming, turn-of-the-century sweet shop, one of the first new things you’ll see is the colorful candy wall, which includes 38 varieties of M&M’S and SKITTLES! If you’re in the mood for something savory and sweet, you can now personalize your popcorn experience with multiple combinations. Select from four popcorn flavors – caramel, rainbow fruit, buttery, cheddar – and then top it all off with a selection of M&M’S or SKITTLES candies or perhaps even with some chocolate drizzle for an extra sweet treat!

You can even get a front-row spot at the candy kitchen area to watch cast members make and decorate your favorite goodies like the character-inspired candy apples and Mickey crisped rice cereal treats being made and decorated. There are more than 30 new items you won’t find anywhere else!

Some of my favorites are the new fudge varieties, like the Peanut Butter Fudge – featuring creamy peanut butter fudge topped with M&M’S Peanut Butter Candies and drizzled with chocolate. Yum!

Of course, this signature Magic Kingdom shop will offer limited-time treats for “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.” These four new sweets will be available starting on Oct. 1.