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When Disney World began to reopen Disney Springs, and with the subsequent announcements of reopening the theme parks and resorts, it was abundantly clear that the typical Walt Disney World experience was going to change.

Caribbean Beach Pin Trading Board Before the Closures

With the emphasis on increasing contactless experiences throughout the resort area, we wondered how pin trading would be affected! With many of the Disney Vacation Club Resort hotels reopening this week, we hoped to get an even better idea of what would be in store for pin fanatics.

We went into this experience knowing that pin trading could, at the moment, be completely unavailable. When we visited Pin Traders in Disney Springs, trading was unavailable altogether and Disney had previously announced that limited-edition releases would NOT drop at Disney World.

Disney’s Statement on Limited-Release Merchandise

We also knew that in some way, pin trading would eventually become available in a modified form. However, we didn’t know if this activity was going to be immediately available or rolled out over time. For the first few days since some of the resorts have reopened, we haven’t seen any pin boards ANYWHERE. We were starting to lose hope until we walked into Artist’s Palette at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort.

Artist’s Palette

That’s where we spotted it! A REAL! LIVE! PIN BOARD! Rather fittingly, the pins seemed to be doing a little social distancing of their own. Since there’s a plexiglass barrier installed at Artist’s Palette’s cash registers now, we pointed to the pin we wanted. The Cast Member wiped it off for us and slid it through the slot in the window.

We Have a Post-Closures Pin Board Here, People!

We laid the pin we were swapping on the counter and the Cast Member picked it up, wiped it off, and stuck it on the pin board! And just like that, our first pin trade transaction in a reopened Disney World was complete! We’ll let you know if we spot more pin boards, but for now, we can say pin trading seems to have officially returned!

Follow along with our adventures around the reopened Disney World Resort hotels here!

Do you trade pins at Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney merchandise, Disney News, Featured, Saratoga Springs Resort, Walt Disney World, artists palette, Disney merchandise, disney pin trading, Disney Vacation Club, Disney World, Disney World reopening, disney world resort hotel, disney’s saratoga springs resort, DVC, pin board, pin trading, reopening

Walt Disney World is preparing to open its theme parks next month. Disney also launched a new park pass reservation system for guests to schedule their park visits.

Guests with current 202o reservations were able to make their park pass reservations earlier this week. Tomorrow, June 26, Annual Passholders will be able to schedule their Park Pass Reservations. Other existing ticket holders will be able to make reservations on Sunday, June 28.

Disney will not open new availability at a pre-announced time of day. When the system opens, all Passholders will be eligible to make theme park reservations for up to three days at a time. Or, Annual Passholders staying at select Disney Resort or other select hotels with valid theme park admission will be eligible to make theme park reservations for each day of their stay(s).

For example, if an Annual Passholder has three five-night reservations, they will be able to hold up to 15 theme park reservations at one time.

Disney will be using virtual waiting rooms as needed to manage the high volume of guests looking to make park reservations for their upcoming visits. They anticipate many Passholders and Guests will begin making their park reservations right away, so wait times may be longer earlier in the day.

Here are a few helpful reminders for those looking to make park reservations:

• Ensure your ticket or Annual Pass is linked to your My Disney Experience account for each member of your travel party.
• Please be sure you are searching for available park days within the valid use period of your ticket or Annual Pass. You can view your valid use period under Tickets and Passes in My Disney Experience. All reservations are subject to availability and applicable pass blockout dates.
• Contact the Disney Reservation Center via phone or online chat if these tips do not resolve the issue. Please note that Disney is experiencing a high call and chat volume at this time.

Also, check out the Disney World Park Pass Tutorial video Disney released today:

Don’t forget, 2021 Disney World package reservations are also available to book now for dates through September 26, 2021.

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: News, Parks & Resorts, Planning, Walt Disney World, 2021 Disney World Packages, annual passholders, Disney World Reopening, Park Pass Reservation System, Park Pass Tutorial Video

Disneyland Resort closed in March due to the global health crisis and was set to reopen mid-July. The closure has now been extended until further notice with no new reopening date in place. This setback caused Disney to make a few important adjustments to Disneyland’s Travel Information page.

Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland

Aside from the expected updated language reflecting the delayed opening, Disney has updated some booking information regarding cancellation policies and reservation changes. 

Missing Section Regarding Rebooking Modifications and New Reservations

Previously, this page detailed the procedure for guests who wish to modify their existing travel dates and make reservations for future vacations. The section stated that guests could make and change reservations for vacations starting on and after July 23rd. This statement has now been completely removed. The page doesn’t currently state a new date when guests can rebook their vacations.

Pixar Pier

Room Only Reservations

Disney has also removed the date in which guests can cancel or change their reservations without being charged a fee. Where they once stated “we are waiving Disney-imposed change and cancellation fees up to the date of check-in for reservations with arrivals through July 22, 2020,” now they will waive fees through “the closure period.” This is expected given that Disney has not announced a new reopening date.

Disneyland Hotel Room

Vacation Packages

Similarly to Room Only Reservations, Disney has also stated that they are waiving Disney-imposed change and cancellation fees with arrivals through the closure period. As opposed to the previously stated, “July 22nd, 2020.”

While Disneyland has delayed its reopening date, Disney will be making future updates as events unfold. To keep informed, continue to check back with us and we’ll be here to keep you informed.

Hoping to make your way to Disneyland once it re-opens? Make sure to check on our Disneyland Closure pages to keep updated on the current situation

Planning a visit to Disneyland? What do you think of Disney pushing back the reopening date?

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney california adventure, Disney News, Disneyland, Disneyland Column, Disneyland Resort, Featured, califorina adventure, coronavirus, coronavirus closure, covid-19, Disney California Adventure, disney closure, disney closures, disney hotels, disneyland california, Disneyland California Advenure, disneyland closure, disneyland closures, Disneyland Hotel, disneyland hotels, Disneyland Park

Downtown Disney is getting a new store: California Sole!

The footwear store previously known as “Sanuk” will be coming to Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort later this summer and offer a variety of brands born in California.

“California Sole is a California-inspired, full service footwear store” mentioned the owner, Wayne Heck. “Our staff is very knowledgeable and can share with guests the stories, passion and heart behind each line of footwear while providing personalized service.”

The store will carry brands like Vans, Sanuk, OluKai, Reef and Havaianas, as well as, Stance socks, Pura Vida bracelets and other accesories.

The store is also getting a new look, now it will be light, bright and modern with iconic California artwork and the doors will stay open to take advantage the perfect California weather!

Despite Disneyland not reopening on July 17th like it was previously announced, the Downtown Disney District will open on July 9th.

Credit: Disney Parks

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Downtown Disney, Disneyland, News, california sole, disney, Sanuk

Today we are thrilled to share a first glimpse of a project Imagineers have been working on since last year. Splash Mountain – at both Disneyland park in California and Magic Kingdom park in Florida – will soon be completely reimagined. The theme is inspired by an all-time favorite animated Disney film, “The Princess and the Frog.” We pick up this story after the final kiss, and join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure – featuring some of the powerful music from the film – as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance.

Tiana is a modern, courageous, and empowered woman, who pursues her dreams and never loses sight of what’s really important. It’s a great story with a strong lead character, set against the backdrop of New Orleans and the Louisiana bayou. In 1966, Walt himself opened New Orleans Square when it became the first new “land” added to Disneyland park, so it feels natural to link the story and the incredible music of “The Princess and the Frog” to our parks.

The voice of Princess Tiana and Tony Award-winning actress, Anika Noni Rose, shared, “It is really exciting to know that Princess Tiana’s presence in both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom will finally be fully realized! As passionate as I am about what we created, I know the fans are going to be over the moon. The Imagineers are giving us ‘The Princess and the Frog’ Mardi Gras celebration we’ve been waiting for, and I’m here for it!”

The approach to retheming or “plussing” attractions (as Walt Disney referred to it) begins with Imagineers asking the question, how can we build upon or elevate the experience and tell a fresh, relevant story? It’s a continuous process that Imagineers are deeply passionate about. And with this longstanding history of updating attractions and adding new magic, the retheming of Splash Mountain is of particular importance today. The new concept is inclusive – one that all of our guests can connect with and be inspired by, and it speaks to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year.

Charita Carter, the senior creative producer leading the project at Walt Disney Imagineering shared, “Like Princess Tiana, I believe that courage and love are the key ingredients for wonderful adventures. I am delighted to be a part of bringing this fun-filled experience to our guests.”

For Imagineers, change is rooted in a tradition set by Walt Disney who encouraged new innovations, new ideas, new scenes and current storytelling. And the experiences they create can be enjoyed by guests who visit our parks from all over the world.

As part of the creative development process, conceptual design work is well underway and Imagineers will soon be able to conduct preliminary reviews and develop a timeline for when the transformation can start to take shape.

Stay tuned for more!

View on the Disney Parks Blog.

The post New Adventures with Princess Tiana Coming to Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom Park appeared first on Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.

From our friends at dpep.disney.com
Filed Under: Disneyland Resort, Parks and Experiences, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney World Resort