Walt Disney World Resort Archives

Space-Themed Restaurant Lands in Future World at Epcot

By Park Savers | May 15, 2018

Last summer, we shared the news that a one-of-a-kind, space-themed restaurant is currently planned for Epcot® that’ll offer you amazing meals and a spectacular view – from high above Earth.

Today, we’re happy to share that this restaurant will be built in a newly developed area located between the park’s Mission: SPACE and Test Track attractions.

Once completed, the restaurant will invite you to travel to space for an amazing dining experience in the stars. The new restaurant will be operated by the Patina Restaurant Group, led by Nick Valenti, which operates several other restaurants around Walt Disney World® Resort, including Tutto Italia and Via Napoli at Epcot and Morimoto Asia and Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante at Disney Springs®.

But Epcot Guests don’t have to wait until the restaurant opens to enjoy a thrilling adventure in space. Last summer, the park’s Mission: SPACE attraction launched new experiences: the enhanced Orange Mission offers a truly intense experience that lets you feel the force of an actual space launch en route to Mars; while the all-new, family-friendly Green Mission takes them on an exciting orbit around Earth.

And this summer – starting June 9, 2018 – Star-Lord and Gamora from “Guardians of the Galaxy” will take you on a musical journey through the cosmos in “Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live!” as a part of “Incredible Summer” at Walt Disney World Resort. You can catch “Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live!” at the America Gardens Theatre at Epcot, five times a day from June 9-Aug. 19, 2018.

Stay tuned for more details about this new space-themed restaurant.

Park Savers

Free Dining Is Back For Walt Disney World Resort

By Park Savers | April 25, 2018

You can get a FREE dining plan when you purchase a 5-night/6-day non-discounted Magic Your Way package that includes a room at a select Walt Disney World® Resort hotel and a ticket with a Park Hopper® Option Aug. 20-Sept. 29, Nov. 24-27, Dec. 7-23, 2018 when you book through July 7, 2018. Ask about packages for other lengths of stay. Please note a minimum 4-night length of stay and 4-day ticket with Park Hopper® Option is required. Only select resort hotels are included with this offer.

When you stay at a select Disney Deluxe Resort or Disney Deluxe Villa Resort, you get the Disney Dining Plan with a variety of delicious dining options! When you stay at a select Disney Value Resort or Disney Moderate Resort, you get the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan that allows you to enjoy a quick bite!

To book your Walt Disney World Resort package with free dining please click here.

The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Tickets and options must be used within 14 days of first use. First use must be on or before 12/31/19. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Advance reservations required. Offer excludes the following room types: campsites, 3-bedroom villas and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort—The Little Mermaid standard rooms. Dining plan excludes gratuities. Children ages 3-9 must order from children’s menu, if available. Some Table-Service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase.

Park Savers

‘UP! A Great Bird Adventure’ Is Now Open At Animal Kingdom

By Park Savers | April 25, 2018

The new “UP! A Great Bird Adventure” show is now open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. The 25-minute show features Senior Wilderness Explorer Russell and his furry friend Dug, from the Disney•Pixar animated film “UP,” as they discover bird species from around the world. Led by senior Wilderness Explorer Anika, “UP! A Great Bird Adventure” features a close-up look at various bird species from around the globe – including the marabou stork with an impressive 10-foot wingspan.

Take a sneak peek inside the show in the video below. Be sure to check the Times Guide or the My Disney Experience App on the day of your visit for show times and information.

As to image © Disney

Park Savers

Pirates Of the Caribbean At Walt Disney World Reopens March 19th With New Auction Scene

By Park Savers | March 28, 2018

When Pirates of the Caribbean reopens at Magic Kingdom® Park March 19, 2018, your Clients will be introduced to the new version of the attraction’s auction scene we first announced last summer.

Just as Walt Disney embraced and encouraged Disney Parks to “keep moving forward” since the opening of Disneyland Park in 1955, Walt Disney Imagineering has introduced many new characters at Pirates of the Caribbean attraction over the years.

The pirate auctioneer now oversees a sale of the townspeople’s most prized possessions and goods. In this scene, the familiar redhead figure has switched sides to become a pirate named Redd, who’s just pillaged the town’s rum supply and has something to say about it.

As we previously shared, the auction scene in the attraction at Disneyland Paris received a similar revision last year. Disneyland® Park will also receive similar updates to its Pirates of the Caribbean attraction later this spring, with work beginning April 23, 2018.

Park Savers

25th EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival

By Park Savers | March 7, 2018

It’s the 25th anniversary of the Epcot® International Flower and Garden Festival, and the park is once again overflowing with the brightest plants, flowers, trees and topiaries adorning both Future World and World Showcase.

Here are some of the top things you shouldn’t miss at the Festival:

Gardens, Gardens and More Gardens: In addition to all the natural flora throughout the park, the Walt Disney World® horticulture squad has curated some truly breathtaking gardens for Guests to enjoy this year. New garden destinations this year include “The How-To Garden” and “The Imagination Play Garden” which are perfect for adults and kids to enjoy together. Returning favorites include “The Goodness Garden Butterfly House” and “The Water Wise Garden,” which showcase environmental responsibility as well as just being fun!
Outdoor Kitchens: What would an Epcot Festival be without fun food and drinks? 15 Outdoor Kitchens this year grace World Showcase, with the newest being “The Honey Bee-Stro,” which features Roasted Cauliflower with Buckwheat Honey Carrot Purée; Honey Tandoori Chicken Flatbread with White Cheddar Cheese; and Local Wildflower Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake with Orange Blossom Honey Ice Cream garnished with Fennel Pollen Meringue Kisses. These dishes were created to showcase multiple honey varietals in creative and exciting ways. Returning Outdoor Kitchen favorites include “The Berry Basket” (featuring a lamb chop with quinoa salad and blackberry gastrique) and “THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brew” (featuring a pulled-pork slider and warm chocolate cake with Bourbon-salted caramel sauce and spiced pecans). YUM!
Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration: One of the beloved characters from Disney animated short cartoons, Spike the honeybee, has been “pollen-nating” throughout the Festival. In this springtime scavenger hunt, gardeners of all ages can follow Spike on his pollination trail around World Showcase, where he will “bee” busy collecting nectar and pollinating gardens at Epcot. To get started, you can purchase their map and stickers at Port of Entry. Available while supplies last.
Garden Rocks Concert Series: Each Friday through Monday of the Festival (what we like to call a “Disney Weekend”), favorite artists from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s will rock out at the America Gardens Theatre. Rick Springfield, Survivor and Lonestar are just some of the popular rock and rollers in the lineup. Each night, there will be three performances – 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. – and you can pair a wonderful meal at several of our Epcot restaurants with reserved concert seating in a nice package. Visit Disneyworld.com/dine or call 407-WDW-DINE to book today!
Character Topiaries: Locations throughout the park feature some of the most beloved Disney and Disney•Pixar characters including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Lady and The Tramp and Buzz Lightyear.
Merchandise: Guests will find a wealth of hats, T-shirts, mugs and other fun Festival merchandise throughout Future World and World Showcase.
Tours: One of the great ways to get the “inside track” on the Festival or the latest in gardening techniques is to take one of the tours offered during the Festival. There are tours of The Land pavilion greenhouses and the “Gardens of the World – Spring Edition.” There is also the daily Royal Tea Garden Tour at the United Kingdom pavilion that includes a tea tasting. Call 407-WDW-TOUR for more information, or to book tours.

If you are coming to this year’s festival, make sure you plan on more than one day to see, smell, hear, touch and taste everything.

Be sure to purchase your 2018 discount Walt Disney World tickets with Park Savers.

As to image © Disney

Park Savers

“Party For the Planet” To Mark Animal Kingdom’s 20th Anniversary

By Park Savers | March 2, 2018

Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Earth Day, April 22, 2018 with an expanded “Party for the Planet” celebration April 22-May 5, 2018.

Rafiki’s Planet Watch will take center stage for the celebration, which will offer backstage experiences that allow you to learn about animal nutrition, visit the veterinary hospital, or hear how Disney promotes global wildlife conservation.

You can also commemorate your anniversary visit to the theme park with special photo opportunities, and kids can earn a limited-edition badge as part of the Wilderness Explorer program. Six different Tiffins Talks, themed-dinners hosted by animal experts at Tiffins full-service restaurant will be available to Guests who want to learn more about the animal residents at the park. And limited-edition merchandise will also be available for purchase, with one piece being a special-edition print created by renowned Walt Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde. (He will be available to sign prints on April 22, 2018 from 1-4 p.m. at Discovery Trading Company. Quantities are limited).

Other experiences coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom this spring include:

April 22 will mark the debut of a brand-new show, UP! A Great Bird Adventure featuring Russell and Dug from the Disney•Pixar animated comedy-adventure film “UP.” The show will give you the chance to see Senior Wilderness Explorer Russell and his fuzzy friend Dug in a new adventure that includes encounters with exotic birds from around the world. This free-flying show will be performed multiple times daily.

A “dino-tastic” celebration with Donald and his friends will also premiere Memorial Day weekend in DinoLand, U.S.A. This dinosaur-themed party celebrates Donald Duck’s discovery that his bird ancestors were actually dinosaurs. DinoLand U.S.A. will feature colorful new décor and playful character greetings with rarely seen pals like Scrooge McDuck, Launchpad McQuack and more. A DJ-powered dance party will mix tunes from the truck-o-saurus stage, capping the nighttime festivities.

Memorial Day 2018 commemorates the one-year anniversary of Pandora – The World of Avatar. Here, travelers are transported to a mystical world of floating mountains, bioluminescent rainforests and breathtaking new experiences. Inspired by the blockbuster film, AVATAR, the epic land invites guests to explore a glowing landscape, encounter a larger-than-life Na’vi Shaman of Songs and soar on the back of a banshee.

As to image © Disney

Park Savers

Is A Coco-themed Attraction In Disney’s Future?

By Park Savers | February 27, 2018

Just as Maelstrom at EPCOT was changed into Frozen Ever After, we’re calling that the Gran Fiesta Tour in the Mexico Pavilion will change to a Coco-themed attraction in the near future. When we were last there Coco was fresh in theaters and doing very well. As soon as we jumped onto the Gran Fiesta Tour attraction it just hit us; this could very well be changed into a Coco attraction.

While the Gran Fiesta Tour is a classic in our book, the younger generations don’t know who the Three Caballeros are or any of the films they were in. The latest we’ve seen of them was in one of the new Mickey Cartoons but only for a brief second.

With the success of Frozen Ever After replacing Maelstrom it just makes sense that Disney would change the Gran Fiesta Tour into Coco. It would represent the Mexico Pavilion well and would be a great update to current characters that the younger generations know. Plus the Grand Fiesta Tour is all about music and so is Coco!

While Disney has not revealed any plans to change the Gran Fiesta Tour at this point, we’re calling it right now. Coco!

As to image © Disney

Park Savers

Toy Story Land Will Open June 30th at Walt Disney World

By Park Savers | February 16, 2018

It’s official! Toy Story Land, the highly-anticipated toy-filled land inspired by the beloved “Toy Story” films, will open to Guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® June 30, 2018.

When it opens, Guests visiting Toy Story Land will “shrink” to the size of a toy and join in on the fun Woody, Jessie, Buzz, and Andy’s other beloved toys are having in Andy’s backyard. Here, your Clients can take a ride on Slinky Dog Dash, a roller coaster Andy has assembled from his Mega Coaster Play Kit and topped off with Slinky and Jessie. (Check out the time-lapse video below of one of Slinky Dog Dash’s first test runs).

Families will also be able to take a spin on Alien Swirling Saucers, a galactic play set that Andy won from Pizza Planet. Here, adorable little green aliens swirl about in their flying saucers with guests in tow in their rocket ship toys, while “The Claw” hangs overhead.

You can also walk through a new carnival game box to experience Toy Story Mania!, which has been a Guest-favorite attraction at the park since it opened in 2008. Now expanded with a third track, the popular attraction will put even more Guests in the action taking aim at 3D objects – using everything from baseballs to cream pies – in a variety of whimsical, fast-paced games.

Woody’s Lunch Box – actually, Andy’s lunch box that he’s set on its side – will serve up tasty meals and old-fashioned soda floats from a walk-up window setting. The entire land will serve as a visual celebration of toys, with Crayons, Cooties, Green Army Men, Rubik’s Cubes, Tinkertoys, and other familiar toys and game pieces incorporated into the land’s design.

Be sure to get your 2018 Walt Disney World tickets with Park Savers at discounted prices!

©Disney Pixar Slinky® Dog is a registered trademark of Poof-Slinky, Inc. and is used with permission. Jenga® Pokonobe Associates. All Rights Reserved. Tinkertoy® is a registered trademark of Hasbro, Inc. Used with permission. 2018©Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Park Savers

STAR WARS-INSPIRED RESORT PLANNED FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT PROMISES TO BE ‘UNLIKE ANYTHING THAT EXISTS TODAY’

By Park Savers | February 13, 2018

Last summer, we announced plans for an immersive Star Wars-inspired resort to be built at Walt Disney World® Resort. Tonight we’re happy to share more details on what this thrilling new resort, which will be seamlessly connected to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, will be like.

This first-of-its-kind resort will combine luxury with complete immersion into an authentic Star Wars story. Guests’ journey through space will start when everyone departs together for a multi-day Stars Wars adventure by boarding a starship alive with characters and stories that unfold all around them during a voyage through the galaxy.

At the resort, Guests immediately become active citizens of the galaxy and can dress up in the proper attire. Every resort window will also have a view into space. The opportunity for immersion at this resort will also stand out among all Disney resorts around the globe, as it will be seamlessly connected to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, allowing guests a total Star Wars experience.

Stay tuned for future updates on this fascinating place!

Park Savers

MICKEY & MINNIE’S RUNAWAY RAILWAY OPENS NEXT YEAR AT DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

By Park Savers | February 12, 2018

Our first Mickey-themed ride-through attraction, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, is opening in 2019 – and we have new, exciting details to share!

During D23 Expo Japan, Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, announced the opening year and showed how we’re pulling out all of the stops to make Mickey’s first attraction an unbelievable experience for everyone. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will feature a new catchy theme song created especially for the attraction as well as a new experience that defies logic that we’re calling 2 ½-D. No glasses required.

On the attraction, the fun begins when Guests see the premiere of a new cartoon short with Mickey and Minnie getting ready for a picnic. As they head out, they drive alongside a train and find out that the engineer is Goofy. Then, one magical moment lets you step into the movie and on Goofy’s train for a wacky, wild ride.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will put you inside the wacky and unpredictable world of a Mickey Mouse Cartoon Short where they’re the star and anything can happen. And for the first time, we shared a preview of what the cars will look like when Guests board the attraction for a zany, out-of-control adventure filled with surprising twists and turns.

The teams helping create the attraction are currently working with partners at Disney Television Animation—the people who create the popular and award-winning Mickey Shorts – to keep the characters and story authentic and to make sure you’re able to step through the movie screen and join Mickey and his friends like never before.

Stay tuned to Disney Travel News for future updates on the Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

Park Savers