The holidays kick off across the Walt Disney World Resort in just hours and we’re bringing some early cheer with the launch of our first “Everything Holidays” section on the Disney Parks Blog and a peek at some of the Disney magic to come.
The new “Everything Holiday” page is where you can find all of our Disney magic of the season, including LIVE events, DIY at-home #DisneyMagicMoments, our best stories from the Walt Disney World Resort and other Disney destinations around the world – as well as a few surprises.
The section is already filled with holiday magic! You can now discover what to expect this season at Walt Disney World Resort and other updates that include a glimpse at Disney cast members creating holiday wreaths and decorations on Main Street, U.S.A.
We also have an early look at the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth with offerings that include delicious food, and the chance to see Disney characters in their holiday finest. The Festival takes place Nov. 27-Dec. 30, 2020 at Walt Disney World Resort.
Our season of festive exclusives here on the Disney Parks Blog also begins today with a set of NEW holiday-themed wallpapers!
There are dozens of other wallpapers to customize your desktop and mobile devices with Disney holiday magic. Just search “Holidays” on our wallpaper page. Check out the terms of use about using the wallpaper before you download it.
Our “Everything Holidays” section even includes a look at new themed merchandise.
The all-new Disney Parks Holiday Collection celebrates one of the tastiest holiday treats, gingerbread! Throw on a T-shirt featuring Disney Parks icons or the latest Minnie Mouse ear headband. There are more Disney holiday items to discover.
Expect to find even more holiday magic coming soon, including special themed #DisneyMagicMoments! So, be sure to keep checking “Everything Holidays” each day for the latest updates.
At first glance it can seem like visiting Walt Disney World means missing out on a quite a few things that many believe are what make Disney a magical place. But after months of our team, and myself, visiting Walt Disney World during this unique time, we’ve got good news. Visiting Walt Disney World is still magical. Yes, it is different. Yes, it is modified. But, there is still magic.
To help you decide if visiting Walt Disney World still offers any value for you, we thought it would be good to talk about what’s missing right now.
FastPass+
Live shows
Full character appearances
Parades
Nighttime spectaculars
Some restaurants
Extra magic hours
Park hopping
Spa services and certain resort recreational activities
So, there certainly is a lot missing at Walt Disney World. But let’s talk about what this all really means. Some things are missing, but there are revised experiences offered in place of some of the traditional experiences. There are practically no live shows right now, but the Frozen Sing Along at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is running, one of the most popular live shows at Walt Disney World. There are also live performances of Mariachi Cobre and the JAMMiators at EPCOT’s American Gardens Theater.
Although there are no traditional parades, there are character cavalcades. And there are no individual meet and greets. Let me tell you, practically everyone on our team and others that I have spoken with say they prefer the character cavalcades. They are very short, but they appear every hour, other than the first of the morning, around lunch time, and continue until around 5:00 p.m. The schedule is not published to avoid crowds gathering beforehand. I prefer these cavalcades because there are multiple ones so you get to see a variety of characters with different music for each one. And they are so frequent it is much easier to see a few here and there than to wait for one long parade that impedes that walkability of nearly half the park. With reduced crowds in the park the characters are able to give a quick wave or gesture to practically every guest as they go by.
Mickey and Friends Cavalcade at EPCOT
And yes, there are no nighttime spectaculars right now. But you know what this means? No more crowded streets as people pull up to a spot an hour before showtime. No more tired and cranky kids whose routine is totally disrupted and it’s past their bedtime and everyone is exhausted (spoken like a true tired toddler mom). No more mad rush immediately following the end of the show as everyone books it to the exit to get to their car or bus. Yes, the nighttime spectaculars can be breathtaking and truly a magical way to end a day, but there are some up sides.
Seared Gnocci and Chocolate Flight To Go at The Wave
Not all Walt Disney World restaurants, whether table service and quick service, are open right now. But, there are already over 200 restaurants at Walt Disney World to begin with. And, in recent weeks more locations have reopened. Additionally, all quick service locations that are owned and operated by Disney have moved to mobile ordering exclusively. You can make things very convenient on yourself by ordering your food while waiting in line for an attraction. Then when you’re done you can check in for your order and it will be ready for you shortly. There’s also a select number of table service restaurants at Disney resorts that offer takeout food via mobile ordering. Each theme park is missing one to three dining locations right now, and each resort that is open may have just one dining location unavailable right now.
Stormalong Bay at Yacht and Beach Club
The loss of Extra Magic Hours as a benefit for staying at select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels is a notable loss. However, in recent months prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Extra Magic Hours were reduced, both in length and frequency. Other offerings at the resorts have changed a little too. Sunrise Yoga offered at many Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts is temporarily suspended, but bicycle rental and similar recreation is still available. Movies Under the Stars are still happening, just at a reduced schedule – essentially one night on, one night off. Arcades are still open at most resorts, but at a reduced schedule.
Now, let’s talk about the loss of FastPass+. It was nice to wake up in the morning and head out to the park knowing you’ve got at least three attractions that are essentially guaranteed because you reserved FastPass+ for them in advance. Now that is not an option. However, average wait times for many of the attractions at the parks are around 30 minutes these days. And, if you’re a TouringPlans Subscriber you’ve got two really awesome tools at your disposal.
You can create your own Touring Plan or use one of our own. A Touring Plan will give you a step-by-step guide on how to go about your day in the parks including which rides to do when and in what order. As you go about your day you can optimize your plan in our Lines app in case there are any changes to your day. If you’d rather just wing it, you can use our Lines app to see Expected Wait Times compared to Disney’s Posted Wait Times. Our Expected Wait Times are calculated using real-time data. You can also see if it’s a good time to ride something now or wait until later. So, even with the loss of FastPass+ you can still accomplish a lot, and perhaps even more, with the right tools.
Everyone has to decide for themselves what constitutes a valuable vacation to Walt Disney World. For some, traveling to the Most Magical Place on Earth has been a welcome respite from a very trying time. Many guests have reported feeling more safe at Walt Disney World than they do in their own local supermarket thanks to Disney’s stringent COVID-19 safety precautions. Our team periodically observes guest mask compliance, and so far we’ve seen an average of 96% compliance among observed guests (500 guests observed at one time).
There are fewer guests in the parks now to allow for physical distancing. Wait times overall are lower than they were a year ago. But ultimately, deciding to visit Walt Disney World right now is an individual choice.
Are any of these missing experiences an absolute deal breaker for you? What questions do you have about visiting Walt Disney World right now?
Filed Under: Attractions, Disney Vacation Club, Dos and Don’ts, Observations, Transportation, Trip Planning, Disney Characters, disney hours, disney parade, disney reopening, disney rides, walt disney world tips
We love a good EPCOT festival and this year, with the Taste of the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, while we aren’t getting to experience everything that the park usually offers for the holidays, one thing we are going to get to experience is the Holiday Kitchens which offer up food and beverages to help celebrate the season. And today, Disney released the delicious menus! Take a look here at what you’ll be able to enjoy during the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays:
Refreshment Port (Showcase Plaza)
Food Items:
Turkey Poutine French Fries with Turkey Gravy, Cranberry Relish, and Crispy Onions
Beverage Items:
T.G. Lee Eggnog (non-alcoholic)
T.G. Lee Eggnog with Spiced Rum
Citrus Blossom (Showcase Plaza)
Beverage Items:
Orange Cream Shake in a Souvenir Orange Bird Sipper Cup (non-alcoholic)
Biancaneve Italian Flatbread with Mozzarella, Asiago, and Parmesan
Sacchetti alla Boscaiola: Four-cheese Mini Beggar’s Purses filled with Sweet Sausage, Caramelized Onions, Pancetta, and Cremini Mushrooms with a Creamy Sauce (New)
Cannoli Siciliani: Crisp Pastry filled with Sweet Ricotta, Chocolate, and Candied Orange
Giant Tostada de Chorizo: Chorizo served on a Giant Tostada with Chipotle Black Bean Purée, Salsa Verde, Queso Cotija, Crema Mexicana, and Pickled Onion (Gluten/Wheat Friendly) (New)
Tamal de Pollo: Braised Chipotle Chicken served in a Corn Masa topped with Mole Verde, Queso Cotija, Crema Mexicana, and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
Dulce de Leche Churros: Dulce de Leche filled Churros sprinkled with Cinnamon-Sugar (New)
Beverages Items:
Tulum Mexican Craft Beer with a Blackcurrant and Ginger Liqueur Floater
Pumpkin Spice Margarita: Tomba Blanco Tequila, Ojo de Tigre Mezcal, Nixta Corn Liqueur, Pumpkin Spice Purée, and Lime-Agave Juice with Cinnamon-Sugar Rim (New)
Horchata Margarita: Casa Noble Blanco Tequila, Abasolo Corn Whiskey, Horchata Rum, Agua de Horchata, and a hint of Cinnamon-infused Mezcal Liqueur
Sweet Potato Casserole Funnel Cake topped with Marshmallow Topping, Cinnamon-Sugar, Honey-roasted Pecans, and a Caramel Drizzle (New)
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company® – All Locations:
Caramel Tinsel Latte: A cheerful Chocolatey Latte drizzled with Caramel Sauce and crumbled TWIX® Original, available hot or iced (New)
Caramel Tinsel Donut topped with crumbled TWIX® Original
Take a look here to see what else is being offered for the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays. The EPCOT Festival of the Holidays runs from November 27 through December 30.
We’re here with a series of quick posts, “Disney in a Minute,” bite-sized nuggets of information that can better help you understand a Disney term or planning topic. Enjoy!
What is a cast member?
Cast member making the real magic happen.
Take a look around the Disney theme parks. See all the folks that work there, the ones with the name tags pinned to their chests? They’re cast members, as is everyone else who works for the Disney parks elsewhere. In Disney parlance, travel destinations like the theme parks are a “show” for the guests. And who is part of a show? The cast!
In other words, cast members are the Disney employees.
There are hundreds of different cast member roles, some that you see and some that you don’t (Disney considers behind-the-scenes folks to be cast members too) – everyone from the dancers in a Magic Kingdom parade to the groundskeepers that refresh the plantings is a cast member. The person that serves your dinner is a cast member, as is the person who cleans the bathroom, the person who loads you onto Space Mountain, the person who designed the lighting for the castle, and the person who stocks the shelves at The Emporium.
Cast members make you feel welcome, keep you safe, and help you have fun.
During the pandemic, Disney has laid off or furloughed tens of thousands of cast members. The remaining folks are working extra hard under challenging circumstances. Please take some time to thank the cast members whenever you can.
Have any topics you want to see covered in Disney in a Minute? Let us know in the comments.
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Beginning November 19, 2020, there will be even more distinctively Disney dining and shopping to enjoy at the Disneyland Resort, when the Downtown Disney District extends to Buena Vista Street.
With Buena Vista Street soon opening select shopping and dining experiences, guests can find even more places to enjoy a memorable meal or a fun shopping excursion during their visit.
Here’s what guests will discover:
Elias & Co. is divided into distinct sections for men, women and children, so shoppers will find something special for the entire family. Julius Katz & Sons has a selection of holiday merchandise and Disney-themed home décor. Kingswell Camera Shop offers gift-giving ideas such as frames, photo albumsand more.
Fora memorable snack, Trolley Treats offersclassic candies, old-fashioned confections and all kinds of freshly made treats. Vending carts will offer popcorn, churros, ice cream and other “must-bite” treats.
At Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe, guests can enjoythe enchanting sights and sounds of Buena Vista Street—and a cup of coffee or an artisan sandwich.
Sit-down dining options include Carthay Circle Lounge – Al Fresco Dining, where visitors can unwind in an expanded outdoor seating area to experience an all-new menu of cocktails and dining.
Smokejumpers Grill is serving up tasty American classics for lunch and dinner with a streamlined menu of burgers, fries, onion rings and craft beer, located just around the corner from Buena Vista Street. The primary way to place an order at this dining location is through mobile order on the Disneyland App.*
Award Wieners offers corn dogs or soft drinks, also available via mobile order.
Only the shopping and dining experiences along Buena Vista Street will be accessible from the Downtown Disney District at this time, as Disney California Adventure park is currently closed.
Beginning Nov. 19, 2020, there will be a $10 fee per car for parking at the Downtown Disney District in the Simba Lot. The number of guests visiting the Downtown Disney District and its locations, including the shopping and dining experiences along Buena Vista Street, will be limited to promote physical distancing. The mobile wait list system may be used when Buena Vista Street and/or its queue are at capacity, similar to the process at some retail locations in the Downtown Disney District.Disney California Adventure Park is currently closed.
Prior to visiting, it is recommended that guests review the health and safety measures at Disneyland.com/DTD to learn important details including temperature screenings prior to entry and the requirement for all guests, ages 2 and older, to wear an appropriate face covering. The number of guests visiting the Downtown Disney District and its locations, including the shopping and dining experiences along Buena Vista Street, will be limited to promote proper physical distancing.
*Available for iPhone®, iPad® and smartphones for Android. Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset or service provider. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google LLC.
. Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset or service provider. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google LLC.