Disney Vacations by Kathy - The Vacationeer

21/08/2022

FYI - The Bibbidi Bobbodi Boutique will finally be reopening, in Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park, starting this Thursday, Aug. 25.

At BBB, Disney cast members – Fairy Godmother’s Apprentices – transform guests ages 3 to 12 into some of their favorite Disney characters with hairstyling, makeup, costumes and accessories. The reopening will usher in even more options to choose from — including a new hair accessory especially designed for textured hair and new costumes featuring some of Disney’s newest heroes and heroines coming later this year.

BBB locations at Disney’s Grand Floridan Resort and Spa and Disney Springs will reopen at a later date.

19/04/2022

Disney World Drops Mask Mandates:

Given recent guidance and trends, guests may now choose whether to wear a face covering on monorails and buses at Walt Disney World Resort, effective immediately.

In other words, there are no places in Disney World that currently require masking: indoor, outdoor or on transportation. You can check the link below for detailed Disney health precautions.

06/04/2022

Nighttime spectaculars return to Disneyland this month. The Disneyland Forever fireworks extravaganza and the classic Main Street Electrical Parade will both return to Disneyland® Park on April 22 - the 50th anniversary of the Main Street Electrical Parade. At Disney California Adventure® Park, the World of Color water show is coming back on April 22 as well. Plus, the Fantasmic! show returns to Disneyland® Park on May 28.

04/04/2022

In other recent Disney news, traditional character greetings will start returning this spring. This change means guests can, once again, hug Mickey Mouse, get an autograph from Mulan, and share a laugh with Goofy or other Disney characters. These changes will start happening at Disney World, Disneyland, Aulani and Disney cruises on April 18.

It’s time to embrace the magic again! As early as April 18, we will start reintroducing traditional character greetings at Disneyland and Walt Disney World R...

04/04/2022

The date is out. Disney's new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction will open May 27 at Epcot. I'll link below to a preview video.

02/03/2022

The Galactic Starcruiser opened yesterday in WDW. Let me know if you want to book a voyage.

28/02/2022

Genie+ Update:
Now through Aug. 7, Genie+ will have 3 new attractions available for booking under the service:

- Space Mountain @ Magic Kingdom
- Frozen Ever After @ Epcot
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway @ Hollywood Studios

As a reminder, Genie+ is the new, paid service to take the shorter queue (known as the Lightning Lane) at DisneyWorld. Previously these three attractions were Individual Lightning Lane attractions that required an additional purchase of $7-$15/person/attraction to take the Lightning Lane.

28/02/2022

On April 22, 2022, Disneyland Forever fireworks spectacular and an updated Main Street Electrical Parade will return to Disneyland Park. At that same time, World of Color will return to Disney California Adventure Park. Fantasmic! is preparing for its return to Disneyland park on May 28, 2022.

15/02/2022

Disney has updated its mask policy for both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Starting Feb. 17, 2022, masks for vaccinated individuals will be optional in all indoor locations, including restaurants.

Masks will continue to be optional outdoors. And masks for all guests ages 2 and up for all enclosed transportation, including monorails and the Disney Skyliner.

08/02/2022

The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival kicks off on March 2. This year’s festival runs March 2 to July 4 – a total of 125 days! – and features a plethora of colorful blooms, good tunes, fragrant scents and fresh flavors.

Disney Character topiaries offer a perfect backdrop for springtime photos with family and friends.

On the bridge to World Showcase, Guests can enjoy the sights and scents of spring at a new fragrant garden presented by Scentsy. Surrounded by vibrant butterfly topiaries, Guests will be invited to follow their noses to six scent stations—floral, fruity, citrus, spice, woods and fresh—to form lasting memories with the help of unforgettable aromas.

The Health Full Trail presented by AdventHealth offers a fun way for families to play and learn how to stay healthy, and Outdoor Escapes Presented by OFF!® Repellents lets Guests enjoy a moment of relaxation, while learning how easy it is to create an outdoor escape of their own.

Bambi’s Butterfly House enchants Guests with a kaleidoscope of butterflies showing off their extraordinary beauty and colors.

The Garden Rocks Concert Series returns to the festival this year, featuring internationally recognized artists on the America Gardens Theatre stage Friday through Monday; local bands will rock the house Tuesday through Thursday.

Outdoor activities can work up an appetite, and the festival’s 18 Outdoor Kitchens serve up fresh menus, seasonal produce and refreshing beverages to satisfy everyone’s taste buds. Guests can stop at EPCOT Farmers Feast, since its menu options rotate throughout the festival. Other new mouthwatering menu items can be found at The Citrus Blossom, Magnolia Terrace and Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina, among others. Keep an eye out for a festival foodie guide coming in late February!

Guests can also explore EPCOT with the Garden Graze, a fun food stroll highlighting five delicious sweet and savory offerings listed in the Festival Passport. Complete the graze to receive a special treat!

08/02/2022

Get in the Spirit of Mardi Gras at Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts. Mardi Gras is less than a month away – happening March 1 this year – and there’s no better place to get in the spirit of the celebration than at Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts. The resorts, which evoke all of the beauty – and fun! – of Louisiana, offer a ton of unique recreation activities, entertainment, and food and beverage. And the best part? Anyone can participate!

Beginning Feb. 4, a group of live musicians will be entertaining Guests at the S**t Cat’s Club – Lounge every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening.

Eat beignets at the S**t Cat’s Club – Cafe.

Sample Louisiana bayou cuisine at Boatwright’s Dining Hall.

Beginning Feb. 4, horse-drawn carriage rides will be offered along its banks of the Sassagoula River, with views of fragrant magnolias, picturesque Spanish moss, enchanting wildlife and more.

28/01/2022

Dates are out for some of WDW's entertainment to return:

* Feb. 11 - A new Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade debuts with almost 30 Disney & Pixar characters, including Nick & Judy from Zootopia, Merida, Moana, the Incredibles, Baloo & King Louie from The Jungle Book, some of the Three Caballeros, and Miguel from Coco. (Cavalcades are mini-parades)

* Feb. 25 - Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire show returns on the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage

* March 9 - Festival of Fantasy Parade returns with two runs per day

21/01/2022

A new restaurant is coming to Hollywood Studios at WDW: Roundup Rodeo BBQ. In this family-friendly dining experience, guests will enjoy delicious barbecue fare while surrounded by a kaleidoscope of toys, games, and playsets that Andy has brought together to create his one-of-a-kind rodeo. The restaurant is scheduled to open sometime in 2022.

07/12/2021

Disney Genie+ service will be available at the Disneyland Resort beginning Dec. 8, 2021. At Disneyland, this service will include Photopass, giving users unlimited downloads of attraction and park photographers throughout their day. This service at Disneyland costs $20/person/day. Guests should make sure to have the latest version of the Disneyland app on their smart mobile device.

29/11/2021

More reopening news: Story Book Dining at Artist Point at Disney's Wilderness Lodge will reopen on Dec. 16. The character dinner with Snow White, the Queen, D***y & Grumpy will be a modified character experience with the four characters strolling through the Enchanted Forest as guests dine. Also, Boatwright's Dining Hall at Disney's Port Orleans resort will reopen on Dec. 14.

23/11/2021

Even more news out of D23, parades are returning to WDW's Magic Kingdom Park in 2022. The Festival of Fantasy Parade will return and many of the cavalcades (Disney's mini parades that were created during covid) will stay. Also, a new cavalcade will debut: the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade. This new cavalcade will feature Nick and Judy from “Zootopia,” Baloo and King Louie from “The Jungle Book,” José Carioca and Panchito from “The Three Caballeros,” Miguel from “Coco,” plus Merida, Moana, The Incredibles, and many more.

23/11/2021

More entertainment news out of D23, live entertainment is coming back Magic Kingdom Park in WDW at the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage early next year with the show “Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire”, which will incorporate favorite scenes from the previous version of the show – with sequences inspired by “Frozen,” “Tangled,” and “The Princess and the Frog” – plus a new opening and a new finale with Mickey Mouse and all his friends in their sparkling, EARidescent fashions. The show will also include an all-new, original song entitled “Where the Magic Feels Like Home.”

23/11/2021

Other news out of D23, some shows are returning to Walt Disney World. Finding Nemo: The Musical will return in 2022 to Animal Kingdom with a new twist. Also, Fantasmic is set to open again in 2022 with a new sequence featuring live performers, stunts, special effects and more.

23/11/2021

Catching up on news announced last week at the D23 conference... Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open summer 2022 at EPCOT as part of the Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary celebration. This new family-friendly coaster will be one of the longest fully enclosed coasters in the world.

14/10/2021

Wondering which rides are included in Genie+? I have a table below. Genie+ will be available at WDW starting Oct. 19.

06/10/2021

Good news! Select WDW character meet and greets will be returning in November, including princesses at the Princess Fairytale Hall in Magic Kingdom, Minnie Mouse at Hollywood Studios and stars of Disney Junior in Animation Courtyard, also at HS. Also the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular will return to HS in December.

30/09/2021

Also of note today for Star Wars fans.

First Voyages on Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Begin March 1, 2022. General Bookings Open Oct. 28, 2021.

30/09/2021

Disney announced that the new attraction Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind will debut in 2022.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a family-friendly adventure, featuring a totally new type of roller coaster experience we’re developing just for this attraction – it’s a storycoaster that rotates 360 degrees so you’re always focused on all the action as you help the Guardians save the galaxy. Not only that, but Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will also feature the first reverse launch on a coaster in Disney history and is one of the longest enclosed coasters in the world. It’s a massive experience that will match the scale and adventure of the Guardians of the Galaxy films.

24/09/2021

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure opens on Oct. 1 in Epcot at WDW. Guests can ride the attraction by securing a virtual queue boarding group via their My Disney Experience app. The queue opens at 7am. Here are the basics on how to get a pass:

1. You must have a ticket AND a park reservation for the day to get a boarding group.
2. You also must have a My Disney Experience account and mobile app on your smart device.
3. You can try to get a boarding group as early at 7am on your day in the park.
4. You don't have to be in the park to get a boarding group in the morning.
5. If you don't get a boarding group in the morning, you can try again at 1pm. You MUST be in the park at that time to try to get a boarding pass.

21/09/2021

Starting Sept. 23, Hollywood Studios is dropping its virtual queue for Rise of the Resistance. A traditional standby queue will be available on that day. And soon, fingers crossed, guests can purchase a timed entry to the ride via Genie+

21/09/2021

Space 220 opened yesterday in Epcot at WDW. The restaurant is located next to Mission: Space and will feature views of space & earth (after "riding" an elevator to a spot 220 miles above earth). Walk-ups only till Sept. 26.

06/09/2021

With Space 220 opening on Sept. 20, 2021, here is a short clip of the elevator experience. For those of you not familiar with the newest Disney restaurant to open within Epcot, Space 220 offers guests the simulated experience of travelling up a shuttle to 220 miles above earth to dine while they look out at scenes of space.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CTUm0ukHTEX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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03/09/2021

Here are some new photos from the newly expanded France pavilion at Epcot and the new Ratatouille ride, set to open on Oct. 1. The France pavilion expansion nearly doubles the size of this area of the park and boasts of lots of details throughout.

20/08/2021

The news is official. Disney will be replacing its old, free fast pass system with a paid system called Genie+. I'll link to the blog with initial details. But basically, it will cost $15/person/day at DW and $20/person/day at DL for a system that looks like the Max Pass system that had been used in Disneyland. (For those more familiar with DW, Max Pass allowed guests to book one fast pass at a time during their day at the parks via their phones). Not all rides will be in this system. The newest, most-in-demand ride or two at each park will only be available via a fast-pass-like service through a new, a la carte, paid service called Lightning Lane. (Think Rise of the Resistance and the new Ratatouille rides for sure). The pricing has not been finalized for Lightning Lane.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/08/introducing-disney-genie/

We’re almost ready to let Disney Genie out of the lamp! Coming this fall to Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, Disney Genie is a complimentary and convenient new digital service designed to create your best Disney day.

04/08/2021

A new commercial for the Galactic Starcruiser experience debuting next year at Disney World.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3RrKnFjBM

See It. Feel It. Live It. Get the details on Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, a 2-night adventure launching at Walt Disney World Resort in Spring 2022.