Breaking Disney News: Dining Plans Officially Coming Back, Park Pass Reservations for Dated Tickets Say Cya Later, and More

 Disney announced some very good news for Walt Disney World visitors today that beginning in 2024, the Dining Plan is coming back, park pass reservations for date-based tickets will be going away, good-to-go dates will be coming for Annual Passholders and Cast Members, extended park time will continue and even simplifying the ease of Genie+ by allowing for planning ahead of your trip.

Beginning January 9, 2024 guests visiting Walt Disney World who's reservations include date based tickets will no longer require Theme Park Reservations. Date-based tickets for reference are the standard tickets that guests purchase. For other admission types, including non-dated tickets, theme park reservations may be required to help Disney to continue managing attendance and delivering a great experience for everyone.

Also for reservations for January 9 or later guests may begin purchasing the Disney Dining Plan. The Dining Plan finally returns after being halted in July 2020 after the parks reopened during COVID. Packages for 2024 will open for purchase May 31. Guests will have the option to choose between the Quick Service Dining Plan and the regular Dining Plan. Pricing has not yet been released for the return of the Dining Plan.

For Annual Passholders and Cast Members, Disney is introducing good-to-go days. These select days will allows annual pass holders and cast members to enter the 4 parks without a reservation. Once introduced, good-to-go dates at the park will be rolled out on an ongoing basis. Good-to-go days will vary by park and  pass block out days as well as park capacity limitations will continue to apply. More details on good-to-go days will be released in the future.

Disney will continue to offer extended morning park hours at all four theme parks for guests staying at Walt Disney World Resorts in 2024. Extended evening hours will also continue to be available for Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villas guests for select days and select parks.

Finally, Disney will also begin offering the ease of planning your days with at the park ahead of your trips with Genie+. While a date of this rollout was not announced they do plan on releasing more details on this feature at a later date.

"Super Saturdays" at Disney Springs for Annual Passholders

Beginning next Saturday March 10 and every second Saturday of each month, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders can receive an extra benefit at Disney Springs. 

In an exclusive shopping event from 9-10 a.m. Passholders will have the stores to themselves for one hour only. In that hour they can find new treasures and take advantage of a 20% discount and there may even be a few surprises in store as well. 

The first event for March 10 is already filled, so space is limited for the remaining events. Will any Annual Passholders take advantage of this special benefit for them at Disney Springs?

Source: WDW News Today

Disney After Hours Returning to Magic Kingdom in 2018

Disney After Hours will return to the Magic Kingdom on select nights from January through March 2018. Those dates are January 19, 26, and 30, and February 8 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., February 15, March 1 and 8 from 9 p.m. until midnight. 

The 3-hour after hours event allows a limited number of guests to experience Magic Kingdom and many of its attractions and character meet & greets. Also available will be ice cream novelties and select beverages that are included in admission of the event. There will be even more available as guests can purchase select items from the Main Street Bakery and other locations throughout the park. 

Admission to Disney After Hours can be purchased in advance for $119 per adult or child, plus tax or tickets can be purchased on the day of the event for $124 per adult or child, plus tax. Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can take advantage of specially priced tickets for just $89 per adult or child, plus tax.

You can purchase tickets online here or by calling the Disney Reservation Center at (407) 827-7185.

Summer Discount on Express Bus Service for AP Holders; Shoulder Banshees Sold Out Already

Summer Discount on Express Bus Service for Annual Passholders:

Annual Passholders are getting a real treat this summer with a nice discount on the Express Bus Service at Walt Disney World theme parks. Beginning tomorrow, June 5, annual passholders will be able to purchase the all-new Express Transportation Summer Pass for just $59 per guest.

The pass will be able to be purchased through July 31, 2017. The pass will be able to be used in unlimited fashion from June 5 through August 10, 2017. Prices for the Express Bus Service usually run $19 for single day use per guest and $29 for a multi-day pass per guest. 

Source: WDW News Today

Shoulder Banshees Sold Out Already in Pandora: The World of Avatar:

I was so excited to adopt a banshee later this week inside the Rookery at WindTraders. The popular Interactive Banshees that debuted during previews and the grand opening of Pandora: The World of Avatar last week are already sold out.

Yesterday morning, when the park opened there were just a few left and by mid-morning the banshees were officially sold out after only a week. Guests are being told it could be a few weeks before the interactive banshees are re-stocked at WindTraders. 

I will be visiting Pandora on Friday and I will be much to my dismay most likely not be able to adopt my own banshee. I guess I will just have to wait a little bit longer. 

Note: Later this week I will be returning to my second home in Walt Disney World, there will be no blog Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. I can't wait to visit Pandora and oh yeah for those of you who listen to myself and MouseLife crew know how excited I am for the Caring for Giants Tour. I can't wait to see Stella the Baby Elephant. That's all for now, I'll see you real soon. 

- John

New All in the Details Pandora: The World of Avatar, Passholder Previews to Begin Soon?

This morning, we got a new look at Pandora: The World of Avatar with a new All in the Details from Disney Imagineering. This episode showed us how they made Pandora as a real place. This was shared on the Disney Parks Blog:

In the film AVATAR, the planet of Pandora featured an ecosystem all its own, with lush bioluminescent flora, precious fauna, and a culture of people who saw and respected the value of their precious planet. In order to create this new land for Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the project team approached bringing Pandora to life as if they were building a real world – unlike one anyone had experienced before – based on the world in the film. 

Our friends at Walt Disney Imagineering just shared this video, in which we learn how Imagineers and Animal Programs worked together to create a uniquely interactive ecosystem exclusively for Pandora – The World of Avatar. The park’s Animal Programs department, which includes conservation biologists and scientists, lent their expertise in order to help the land seem as authentically real as possible.

Also according to a report by WDW News Today, Annual Passholder previews for Pandora: The World of Avatar will begin very soon at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Those first dates are just two weeks away as reports are saying online registration for previews on April 8th and 9th should open very soon. More preview dates are possible, but there is no word on when they will be.

Rumors are saying Disney will request a technology ban so no photos or video will be taken of the new land ahead of the opening. The previews would begin nearly a month and a half before Pandora: The World of Avatar even opens.

Stay tuned for more details and confirmation of Annual Passholder previews beginning. Pandora: The World of Avatar officially opens May 27, 2017 at Disney's Animal Kingdom. I'll be there June 9 to begin my adventure on Pandora.

Sources: Disney Parks Blog, WDW News Today

New DuckTales Series Cast Revealed, Walt Disney World Introducing AP Entry Lines, & More

New DuckTales Series Cast Revealed:

The new DuckTales series will premiere in Summer 2017 on Disney XD. Today, we learned who will voice our favorite returning characters when the series premieres. A video was also released of the new cast singing the famous theme song from the series.

"The trio of troublemakers, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, will be voiced by Danny Pudi, Ben Schwartz, and Bobby Moynihan, respectively. David Tennant joins the cast as Scrooge McDuck, with Beck Bennett voicing his pilot, Launchpad McQuack. Mrs. Beakley (Toks Olagundoye) and Webby Vanderquack (Kate Micucci) are back, and DuckTales devotees will be happy to know that favorite characters like Donald Duck, Flintheart Glomgold, Gyro Gearloose, Duckworth, Gizmoduck, Magica DeSpell, Gladstone Gander, and Ma Beagle and the Beagle Boys will also take part in the wacky, quacky adventures."- Nicole Nalty, D23.com

Here is the cast singing the famous theme song of the show:

Walt Disney World Introducing Annual Passholder Entry Lines for Holidays:

Walt Disney World is introducing separate entry lines for its Annual Passholders at all four of its parks for the next coming weeks. Beginning December 21, annual passholders will be able to utilize their own entry lines entering into the parks. 

No end date or details were announced about the new entry lines for Annual Passholders. 

Several Magic Kingdom Restaurants Adding Alcohol to their Menu's:

Photo Credit: WDW Info

Several Magic Kingdom restaurants will be adding alcohol to their menu's beginning next week during lunch and dinner. Up until 2012 none of the restaurants in the Magic Kingdom had served alcohol on their menu's. It was something Walt even at Disneyland tried to keep the park mostly dry for fear of guests drinking excessively and becoming unruly at the parks. Be Our Guest was the first in the Magic Kingdom to serve alcohol on their menu.

Here is some of the choices guests will have at each of the four restaurants which include Tony's Town Square, Liberty Tree Tavern, Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen, and Cinderella's Royal Table.

• Tony’s Town Square Restaurant, the Italian restaurant close to the entrance of the park, will serve Italian wines and beers, including a Chianti Superiore that will pair well with their grilled pork chop with mushroom-bean pancetta ragu and marsala reduction.
• Liberty Tree Tavern will serve beer, cider and domestic wines to go with the American cuisine they serve. A New England lager is paired with the Patriot’s Platter.
• Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen, the newest restaurant in Adventureland will beverages from around the world such as a riesling to pair with Trader Sam’s head-on shrimp.
• Cinderella’s Royal Table, inside Cinderella Castle, will serve champagne and sparkling wine.

New Special Offers for Annual Passholders at Walt Disney World; Hall of Presidents Sets Refurbishment to Add New President

New Special Offers for Annual Passholders at Walt Disney World: 

While yesterday was the 45th Anniversary of the opening of Magic Kingdom, some long awaited new special offers for Annual Passholders at Disney World are now available. This includes new dining and merchandise discounts as well as special Anniversary offer for this special Anniversary that we celebrated yesterday.

That special 45th Anniversary offer begins today and will run through January 3, 2017. The offer allows guests when purchasing a 12-month annual pass will be able to enjoy an extra month free. You will get 13 months for the price of 12 months. Prices will vary depending on which pass you buy: Weekday Select, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Plus. 

Starting yesterday, Annual Passholders began receiving 20% off the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 45 theme park and resort hotel restaurants. This will run through September 30, 2017 at places like Jiko - The Cooking Place, family dining like at The Jungle Skipper Canteen, or even quick service like newly opened D-Luxe Burger at Disney Springs. There will also be a 10% discount off food and non-alcoholic beverages at select table-service restaurants at the theme parks or resorts.

Finally, if you like shopping, pass holders now will receive a 20% discount off their purchases at Disney owned and operated merchandise locations.

Will you be taking advantage of these new special offers for Annual Passholders at Walt Disney World?

Hall of Presidents Sets Refurbishment to Add New President:

The United States will be electing a new president next month whether it be Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump. The Hall of Presidents at Walt Disney World will be welcoming one of them to the attraction while it closes for refurbishment just before Inauguration Day on January 17 will remain closed until June 29. It will open just before the 4th of July Holiday.

One would assume some changes will be made to the attraction as the acting president has given a speech during the shows attraction since President Bill Clinton did it first, followed by George W. Bush, and our current president Barack Obama. Given the unique circumstances with this election it will be interesting to see what changes Disney Imagineers make to the attraction. 

Rivers of Light Previews to Begin Next Week Possibly; New Details and Concept Art for Tiffins at Animal Kingdom

Rivers of Light Previews to Begin Next Week Possibly:

The amazing new nighttime spectacular at Animal Kingdom, "Rivers of Light", previews will begin next week according to WDW News Today and an internal document that is being passed around Disney. According to the document it would begin with an Animal Kingdom cast members only preview next week on April 6th. All other cast member previews will follow on April 8, April 9, April 12, and April 13. 

An Annual Passholder and Disney Vacation Club preview will follow the cast member previews with a special preview for up to 4,000 guests on April 15th. Normal AP and DVC member previews will be held on April 16 and 17. 

This will all lead up to the Press event on April 19th and the show opening to all guests on Earth Day, April 22nd. Also according to the document the show will be shown twice nightly at 8:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

New Details and Concept Art for Tiffins at Animal Kingdom Released:

Tiffins will be the newest table-service restaurant at Disney World when it opens this summer in Animal Kingdom. The 252-seat restaurant will open in the Discovery Island area of the park. The name Tiffin comes from the Indian word for a lunchbox used by travelers also a mid-day meal. 

The restaurant will open daily for lunch and dinner with a menu inspired by many locations around the world including Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. When guests enter the signature restaurant they will be greeted by a detailed map of the world to help experience world travel. Around the restaurant will be bold artwork derived from sketches, journals, and research from those who created the park. 

The Disney Parks Blog and Emily O'Brien, Walt Disney Imagineering executive show producer of Animal Kingdom shared this on Tiffins and what guests will experience:

“Tiffins is the signature restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, celebrating the culture of design and research that went into creating this unique park,” said Emily O’Brien, Walt Disney Imagineering executive show producer for Disney’s Animal Kingdom.O’Brien describes the interior design as “a gallery you can dine in with artwork that is a direct result of travels to Africa, Asia and South America which influenced the design of the park.” The ideas of the park’s design team, including sketches, photography, architecture and textures, are all presented in a way that is uniquely Disney.“All the senses are explored and turned into amazing works of art,” said O’Brien. “The galleries, or dining rooms, focus on Asia [Trek Gallery with 74 seats] and Africa [Safari Gallery with 64 seats], and the third [Grand Gallery with 114 seats] pays homage to animal species that the Disney Conservation Fund works to protect.”

The travel-inspired artwork includes a static, three-dimensional piece that features prayer flags blowing in the wind. “As our research team traveled up the high mountains of Nepal, the winds were strong,” explained O’Brien. “The prayer flags are rarely seen hanging, they are always blowing.” This portrayal of the motion is realistically captured in the display which will hang above a corner booth in the Trek Gallery.“Tiffins is not about a make-believe place, it’s about real people and places,” said O’Brien.Disney’s Animal Kingdom is about the intrinsic value of nature, transformation through adventure and a personal call to action, and the adjacent Nomad Lounge brings into focus these core values. With beautiful waterfront views, the lounge focuses on storytelling, and also on guests’ travels, with large banners as “artistic representations” of answers to travel questions written on the perimeter wall. For instance, “what do you always do when traveling” or “what was your most adventurous moment?”“We’re trying to tell the story of how guests can make a change,” said O’Brien. While the answers of Disney experts are displayed, guests also have the opportunity to purchase a tag that supports the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund and to write their own answers to the questions to display above the bar– a way to share their own travel stories “so they can be a part of the story,” said O’Brien.

The Disney Parks Blog said they will be sharing the menu for Tiffins very soon as well the partnering lounge right next to the restaurant also opening up called, Nomad Lounge.

Disney Makes Dramatic Price Increases to Annual Passes for Disneyland and Disney World Overnight

Overnight, last night Disney dropped some news that has upset many Annual Passholders of their theme parks on both coasts. Dramatic price increases for annual passes at Disneyland and Disney World have been made and some have increased as much as $300 more. A Disney spokeswoman has said that the Annual Pass price hike is a way to "manage strong demand." Disney also said since the introduce of the Disneyland Annual Pass in 2001, the number of Annual Passes have increased by 250%, although they didn't reveal the exact number of Annual Passholders. “We have to look at ways to spread out our attendance throughout the year so we can accommodate demand and avoid bursting at the seams,” Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek told The Wall Street Journal.

Here is a rundown of the new pricing for both parks:

Disney World:

Water Park Hopper Annual Pass
New - $110.00 Ages 10+; $99.00 Ages 3 –9
Renewal - $93.00 Ages 10+; $84.00 Ages 3 –9

Includes admission to:
- Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
- Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

No other inclusions, no block out dates.

Disney Gold Pass
New - $549.00
Renewal - $429.00

Includes admission to:
- Magic Kingdom Park
- Epcot
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
- Theme Park Parking at Walt Disney World Resort

2015 Blockout dates:
- December:17 –31

2016 Blockout dates:
- January: 1
- March: 19 –31
- April: 1
- December 19 –31

2017 Blockout dates:
- January: 1 –2


Disney Platinum Pass - $549 to $749
Tourist New - $749.00
Tourist Renewal - $635.00
Florida Resident New - $649.00
Florida Resident Renewal - $649.00
Disney Vacation Club New - $649.00
Disney Vacation Club Renewal - $649.00
Tourist Charter - $615 Renewal ONLY
Florida Resident or DVC Charter - $539 Renewal ONLY

Includes admission to:
- Magic Kingdom Park
- Epcot
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Also includes:
- Digital PhotoPassPlus downloads
- Theme Park Parking at Walt Disney World Resort

Disney Platinum Plus Pass - $599 to $829
Tourist New - $829.00
Tourist Renewal - $705.00
Florida Resident New - $729.00
Florida Resident Renewal - $619.00
Disney Vacation Club New - $729.00
Disney Vacation Club Renewal - $619.00
Tourist Charter - $685 Renewal ONLY
Florida Resident or DVC Charter - $599 Renewal ONLY

Includes admission to:
- Magic Kingdom Park
- Epcot
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
- Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
- Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
- ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Also includes:
- Digital PhotoPassPlus downloads
- Theme Park Parking at Walt Disney World Resort
- Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course

Disneyland:

Disney Southern California Pass
Renewals ONLY - $439
Parking can be added for $199

2015 Block out dates:
- All Saturdays
- November:11, 26 –27
- December:18, 21 –25, 28 –31

2016 Block out dates:
- All Saturdays
- January: 1, 3, 17
- February: 14 –15
- March: 20 –25, 27 –31
- April: 1
- May: 27, 29
- June: 10, 17, 22 –24
- July: 1, 3 –8, 10 –15, 17 –22, 24 –29, 31
- August: 1 –5, 7 –12, 14 –19, 21
- September: 4

Disney Southern California Select Pass
New- $329
Renewal - $319
Parking can be added for $199

2015 Block out dates:
- All Saturdays and Sundays
- November:11, 26 –27
- December:18, 21 –25, 28 –31

2016 Block out dates:
- All Saturdays and Sundays
- January: 1, 18
- February: 12, 15
- March: 18, 21 –25, 28 –31
- April: 1, 8, 15, 22
- May: 27, 30
- June: 3, 10, 13 –17, 20 –24, 27 –30
- July: 1, 4 –8, 11 –15, 18 –22, 25 –29
- August: 1 –5, 8 –12, 15 –19, 26

Disney Deluxe Pass
New / Renewal - $599
Parking can be added for $199

2015 Block out dates:
- November:27 –28
- December:19 –31

2016 Block out dates:
- January: 1 –2
- February: 13 –14
- March: 9, 25 –26
- April: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
- May: 7, 14, 21, 28 –29
- June: 4, 11, 18, 25
- July: 2 –4, 9, 16, 23, 30
- August: 6, 13
- September: 3 –4

Disney Signature Pass
New- $849
Renewal - $799
DVC member New - $829
DVC member Renewal - $829 (not a typo)

Includes parking
Includes Digital PhotoPassPlus downloads

Blocked out December: 19 –31, 2015 and January: 1 –2, 2016

Disney Signature Plus Pass
New- $1049
Renewal - $989
DVC member New - $1029
DVC member Renewal - $1029 (not a typo)
Club 33 member New - $839
Club 33 member Renewal - $839

Includes parking
Includes Digital PhotoPassPlus downloads
No blockout dates

Disney Premier Passport:

New- $1439
Renewal - $1439
DVC member New - $1439
DVC member Renewal - $1439
Club 33 member New - $1151
Club 33 member Renewal - $1151

Includes admission to WDW and Disneyland Resort
Includes parking
Includes Digital PhotoPassPlus downloads
No blockout dates
Includes Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course

Parking also increased at Disneyland's Downtown Disney from $6 to $12 an hour with only two hours of free parking with an additional 2 hours with validation from a restaurant or movie.

Tables in Wonderland at Disney World Increases:

Disney has also announced a price increase in their Tables in Wonderland dining pass at Disney World. The price will increase $50 over what it used to be to $150 for Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members and $175 for Florida Residents.

New Disneyland Mobile App Coming; Are Star Wars Live-Action TV Shows Coming to Netflix?

New Disneyland Mobile App Coming Next Week:

A new Disneyland mobile app is coming to Google Play and the Apple App Store available next Tuesday, August 4. The new app will offer such features such as allowing Annual Passholders to link their passes and using their phones to gain admission to the parks. Here are the other perks that more information will be released next week on the Disney Parks Blog:

Park Info:

• Attraction Wait Times
• Character Meet & Greet Locations
• Dining Locations 
• Restroom Locations
• PhotoPass Locations
• Entertainment Show Schedules

Park Tickets and Admission:

Park tickets will be able to be purchased directly through the App and then ticket barcodes will be scanned for initial entrance into the parks where a real ticket will then be printed.

Annual PassHolders will be able to link their passes with the app for theme park entry. Families will be able to link several annual passes to the app for easier park entrance. The physical annual pass will still be needed for park discounts and Fastpass. The initial annual pass must still be purchased online or via a ticket booth. This perk will not yet be available for Premier Annual Passholders. 

The new App will not be in sync with the My Disney Experience App that is used at Walt Disney World or the Shop Disney Parks App. 

Are Star Wars Live-Action TV Shows Coming to Netflix?

Cinelinx is reporting that several live-action Star Wars shows could be in the works with Netflix. They are saying that nothing is nailed down but Disney is trying to nail down a schedule to shoot the series in between films, so they could use the same sets. 

The article states that LucasFilm has really firmed up their schedule in the last few weeks including announcing the released for the second anthology film about Han Solo. So with firming up their schedules they are looking more and more into TV options, including Netflix.

Here is the information they are reporting: "Disney is looking to continue their partnership with Netflix for their Star Wars shows. Yes, I said shows. I've heard there's talk of potentially three different live-action shows for Netflix, in much the same way Marvel has deals in place for Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, etc." 

LucasFilm already has a great relationship with Netflix as they already used the platform to release the final season of "Clone Wars" exclusively on Netflix along with the other five seasons. No release date has be pinpointed yet but Cinelinx is guessing around 2017 for the first series.