While sometimes the cost of a ticket can be a hard one to handle, sneaking into the park has never crossed our minds. Unfortunately, one man decided he would try his best to sneak into the park by climbing the Magic Kingdom wall to enter. His endeavors didn’t get him very far.
As reported by ClickOrlando: “A man faces charges after Walt Disney World security spotted him climbing a wall in an attempt to sneak into the Magic Kingdom park, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Johnny Tran, 31, was arrested on May 23 at Walt Disney World. Investigators said just before noon, Tran did not pay for parking in Disney’s parking lot. A uniformed security guard posted at a checkpoint along a walkway leading from the Contemporary Resort to Magic Kingdom told deputies that he saw Tran near the entrance to a bus drivers’ breakroom. The guard then watched as Tran looked around and then walked up to berm, which investigators said he climbed over to gain entry to the park.”
The report goes on to say that a security guard assigned to that portion of the park saw Tran walk out of a Cast Member only door into Tony’s Town Square Restaurant and was removed taken to a security office at that point.
Tran faces charges of trespassing and petit theft for failing to pay for parking or the entrance fee for the park. His arraignment in scheduled for July 27. To read more details about the arrest visit ClickOrlando.com.
Today Disney is celebrating “Halfway to the Holidays!” If you’re ready to plan a visit to Walt Disney World for the 2021 holidays, we have some exciting news for you! Disney has announced holiday festivities happening at all four parks, Disney Springs, plus Walt Disney World Resorts. Get ready to experience festive entertainment, whimsical décor, seasonal food and drinks, and holiday-themed merchandise will all be a part of this very special season. Here’s a sneak peek as shared by Disney below:
Magic Kingdom Park
Holidays are sure to be enchanting at Magic Kingdom Park, where quintessential decorations will return to Main Street, U.S.A. When the sun sets, special holiday projections will appear most nights on Cinderella Castle, alternating periodically with the castle’s transformation into a Beacon of Magic.* What a great way to celebrate the holidays and the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort! Now, talk about an early holiday gift… “Disney Very Merriest After Hours,” a new special-ticketed event, will debut Nov. 8 before all the rest of the festive fun. It will be available on select nights through Dec. 21. The four hours of festivities will delight guests with “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks,” Disney characters throughout the park, holiday music and décor, treats included and so much more! As with other Disney After Hours events, a limited number of tickets will be sold for this event. It’s held after regular park operating hours, with lower wait times and access to more than 20 select attractions. Tickets will go on sale next month, with an early purchase window available to guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Sunset Seasons Greetings returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as the Hollywood Holiday Tower Hotel on Sunset Boulevard will twinkle once again with projection effects, magically transforming into a snowy corner of Arendelle, a Muppets gingerbread masterpiece, a Toy Story toy hotel, and a Dickensian village inspired by “Mickey’s Christmas Carol.” This holiday show will also alternate with the tower’s nightly transformation into a Beacon of Magic. Santa Claus will bring some North Pole cheer to a motorcade down Hollywood Boulevard. You will also be able to enjoy “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration,” with its festive finale featuring everyone’s favorite snowman, Olaf. Minnie Mouse is also returning to host her festive meal at Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Minnie and her friends will be donning their holiday best – even Santa Goofy will be there! And throughout the season, vintage-themed holiday décor will shine bright across the park.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
It will be a wild holiday time at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park with the return of seasonal décor and festive Disney character flotillas sailing down Discovery River to the sounds of joyful songs of the season. The park’s centerpiece – The Tree of Life – becomes another Beacon of Magic most nights during the 50th anniversary celebration. During the holiday season there’s even more magic inspired by nature as the holiday edition of Tree of Life Awakenings also takes place most nights.
Disney Springs
You can happily discover whatever you’re after this holiday season at Disney Springs. The shopping, dining and entertainment destination will transform into a winter wonderland, full of sparkling lights, enchanting décor and holiday surprises. This year sees the return of the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll, with elaborately decorated, Disney-themed trees – some new and some inspired by “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.” A magical snowfall will add a touch of wonder for holiday shoppers in Town Center. Here, you can find the perfect gift for everyone on your list, including yourself. Discover holiday ornaments, matching family pajamas, festive Spirit Jerseys, and more – be sure to check your list twice so you don’t forget any holiday must-haves! There will even be themed food and beverages; one of my favorite spots, Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, will once again transform into Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar, with delightful décor and a delicious limited-time menu filled with festive favorites.
Disney Resort Hotels
Our Disney Resort hotels will be decked for the holidays, with iconic trees and other seasonal touches. And a guest favorite will return this year, as select gingerbread displays will once again be part of our holiday season! Also at select resorts, you will find restaurants offering holiday menus and specialty food and drink.
EPCOT
Where can you enjoy traditions from around the world, with inspiring music, tasty treats and family-friendly experiences? If you guessed EPCOT … … you are correct! The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will return this year, from Nov. 26 – Dec. 30, with Holiday Kitchens around the park, performances by Voices of Liberty, the guest favorite Cookie Stroll and more!
Walt Disney World has updated their park hours which includes extended hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! The Walt Disney World website now shows parks hours have been released through September 25. With the return of fireworks, the arrival of the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, and Disney After Hours Boo Bash events, you can expect crowds to be flooding back to the magic. As you plan your vacation, here are the current posted park hours for July 11 – September 25, 2021.
Magic Kingdom:
July 11 – 31: 9:00am to 10:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 10pm)
August 1 – 13: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
August 14: 9:00am to 6:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 6pm)
August 15 – 31: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
September 1 – 6: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
September 7: 9:00am to 8:30pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8:30pm)
September 8 – 9: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
September 10: 9:00am to 8:30pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8:30pm)
September 11: 9:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)
September 12: 9:00am to 8:30pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8:30pm)
September 13: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
September 14: 9:00am to 8:30pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8:30pm)
September 15 – 16: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
September 17: 9:00am to 8:30pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8:30pm)
September 18: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
September 19: 9:00am to 8:30pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8:30pm)
September 20: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
September 21: 9:00am to 8:30pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8:30pm)
September 22 – 23: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
September 24: 9:00am to 8:30pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8:30pm)
September 25: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
EPCOT:
July 11 – 31: 11:00am to 10:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 10pm)
August 1 – 31: 11:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
September 1 – 25: 11:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
July 11 – 31: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
August 1 – 28: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm) *EXTENDED: Previously 8pm
August 29 – 31: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm
September 1 – 25: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
July 11 – 31: 8:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)
August 1 – 31: 8:00am to 6:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 6pm)
September 1 – 25: 8:00am to 6:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 6pm)
Keep checking the My Disney Experience App before visiting as Disney has been known to add extra hours as dates draw nearer.
As Walt Disney World continues to take steps toward normal operations, this week, the resort took one huge leap in getting back to normal–the return of fireworks. ‘Happily Ever After’ and ‘EPCOT Forever’ returned to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT respectively on July 1. It was a rainy night, but the excitement was high for the return of the shows.
We couldn’t be happier to see the return of firework shows at these parks. While there has been plenty of magic at Walt Disney World during the phased reopening, you just can’t beat finishing the day off by watching Disney fireworks.
Over at EPCOT, EPCOT Forever returned to World Showcase. The show will run through September 30, 2021. On October 1, 2021, “Harmonious,” one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney park, will debut. This new show will bring the globe together at World Showcase Lagoon in a celebration of Disney music that inspires people worldwide.
Disney is sharing exciting news today as a time-honored tradition has made a return to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Supporting military heroes is a tradition that dates back to the founding of The Walt Disney Company. Now, Disney has announced they will once again recognize active-duty military and veterans with the return of the daily flag retreat ceremony.
As shared by Disney: “Magic Kingdom Park welcomed back their daily flag retreat July 1, resuming the tradition of selecting an active-duty military member or veteran from among that park’s daily visitors. As shadows grew long in the late afternoon in Town Square, many watched silently as a guest U.S. Air Force veteran joined members of Magic Kingdom’s security team to respectfully lower the flag and carry it in a processional down Main Street, U.S.A. The ceremony included the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, and the singing of “God Bless America” and the “Star Spangled Banner,” accompanied by the Main Street Philharmonic marching band. “It has been an honor for our security cast to keep our flag flying every day over Magic Kingdom since the park first opened in 1971,” said Army veteran Eileen Underwood, Magic Kingdom’s senior security manager. “We were thrilled to resume our daily flag retreat ceremonies to honor our country and those who serve around the world in defense of our freedoms. It’s a special moment for all our guests that really reaffirms the feeling that this is truly a magical place.”
The flag retreat ceremony occurs daily at Magic Kingdom. You can visit Guest Services or see a Times Guide for event timing. To the many military heroes out there, thank you for your service and Happy 4th of July!
