Disney Will Start Charging for Overnight Parking at Resorts; Incredible Summer Will Light Up Typhoon Lagoon

Disney Will Start Charging for Overnight Parking at Resorts:

After years of rumors, Walt Disney World guests will now have to pay overnight parking fees when staying at resorts. This will begin for reservations made after March 21, 2018. Guests who have made prior reservations to March 21 will not have to pay the parking fees. 

Fees will depend on what kind of resort the guest is staying either Value, Moderate, or Deluxe:

Value: $13/night

Moderate $19/night

Deluxe: $24/night, additionally Deluxe resort guests can pay $33/night to use valet parking.

Complimentary self-parking will remain for the following:

• Guests with disabilities
• Cast Members staying as guests
• Guests traveling as part of a group or convention
• Guests staying at campsites at Fort Wilderness.
• Guests who wish to dine, shop, enjoy activities, or visit a resort for the day

Guests who are Disney Vacation Club members will not be charged standard parking fees if they are staying Deluxe DVC Villas regardless of whether they used vacation club points or another form of payment. 

Source: WDW Info

Incredible Summer Will Light Up Typhoon Lagoon with Disney H2O Glow Nights:

As part of Walt Disney World's 'Incredible Summer', our favorite Pixar pals from 'Toy Story' will light up the night and summer at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon with the new event H20 Glow Nights. 

Our 'Toy Story' pals will throw glow parties inspired by the Toy Story toons short 'Partysaurus Rex."

On select summer nights starting June 21, special lighting effects will transform the water park like never before as Buzz, Woody and Jessie will throw a Beach Party inspired by their friend, “Partysaurus” Rex. Guests will join the fun, dance on the beach, play party games, and meet up with Buzz, Woody and Jessie, plus, all attractions will be open for guest enjoyment.

Disney H20 Glow Nights will take place only at Typhoon Lagoon on Thursdays and Saturdays from June 21-August 11, from 8-11 p.m.

Disney H20 Glow Nights will be separate ticketed event and the party is not included in daytime admission. Tickets will go on sale March 19 and cost $55 for adults and $50 for children ages 3-9 (plus tax). For more information and to purchase tickets, guests can call (407) 939-1872.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

2018 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Dates Announced; Wheezy Installed in Toy Story Land

2018 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Dates Announced:

For the 23rd year, Epcot will once again welcome guests for the 2018 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. This year's festival will bring 75 days of fun, entertainment, events, and of course the main course of the festival in delicious food and tasty drinks. 

This year's festival will begin August 30 and run through November 12, 2018. This year’s festival will also continue the tradition of fine dining events, appearances by favorite Disney culinarians and top celebrity chefs, and a slate of concerts from favorite bands of the last few decades.

While very little details for the 23rd annual festival, guests can watch TasteEpcot.com for updates and be sure to stay tuned in the future for more details on this year's celebrity chef events, "Eat to Beat" concerts, dining packages, Marketplace Menus, and so much more.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Wheezy Installed Inside Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios:

We are all patiently waiting for June 30 to arrive for when Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios to open. Today, the Disney Parks Blog shared an image of Wheezy being installed by Walt Disney Imagineers inside the amazing new land.

You can see Wheezy and all of Toy Story Land when it opens for guests on June 30, 2018. 

Get a Sneak Peak of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge With New Flyover Video

We are all patiently (NOT!) waiting to explore Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at both Disneyland and at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Yesterday, during the annual shareholders meeting, Disney President and CEO Bob Iger gave a sneak peak of the progress on both lands with a flyover of the construction site. It was then later shared on the Disney Parks Blog.

Check out the video below:

At Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, guests will be transported to the planet of Batuu, a remote outpost on the galaxy’s edge that was once a busy crossroads along the old sub-lightspeed trade routes. Here, guests will find themselves in the middle of the action at two attractions that take detail and immersion to the next level: one that lets guests take the controls of Millennium Falcon on a customized secret mission, and an epic Star Wars adventure that puts guests in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will open at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios in 2019.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

What is Disney Planning for Former River Country Site?

It appears Disney is planning something for the former River Country as permits have been filed for the land. According to the filing, Disney is embarking on some geotechnical borings on Walt Disney World's first water park. When this is done it is to see if a piece of land is suitable for a construction project.

It could possibly be for a new hotel, as Disney filed a similar permit for the unannounced as of yet for the hotel at the entrance to Epcot. River Country opened on June 20, 1976 and then closed indefinitely in 2001. Disney announced that the water park would be closed permanently. Since the land where the water park once stood has been abandoned and closed off for trespassers. 

Source: WDW News Today

First Teaser Trailer for "Mary Poppins Returns" Released During Oscars

Coming out this December, the nostalgia is returning just in time for Christmas. Tonight though we got the first look of all the nostalgia as the first teaser trailer for "Mary Poppins Returns" has been released. As we celebrate Hollywood tonight its the trailer that is giving us Disney fans chills as we see the return of someone we've been waiting for a very long time.

It's just like the original, "Winds in the east, mist coming in. Like something' is brewin' and bout to begin. Can't put me finger on what lies in store. But I fear what's to happen all happened before." This Christmas a new story begins and check out below the first look at "Mary Poppins Returns":



“Mary Poppins Returns” stars: Emily Blunt as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure; Lin-Manuel Miranda as her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light—and life—to the streets of London; Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks; Emily Mortimer as Jane Banks; and Julie Walters as the Banks’ housekeeper Ellen; with Colin Firth as Fidelity Fiduciary Bank’s William Weatherall Wilkins; and Meryl Streep as Mary’s eccentric cousin, Topsy. The film also introduces three new Banks’ children played by Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and newcomer Joel Dawson. Angela Lansbury appears as the Balloon Lady, a treasured character from the PL Travers books and Dick Van Dyke is Mr. Dawes Jr., the retired chairman of the bank now run by Firth’s character.

The film is directed by Rob Marshall from a screenplay by David Magee and screen story by Magee & Marshall & John DeLuca based upon The Mary Poppins Stories by PL Travers. The producers are Marshall, DeLuca and Marc Platt with Callum McDougall serving as executive producer and the music is by Marc Shaiman with songs by Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

"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

"Infinity War" Release Date Moved Up a Week; Celebrate Mickey's 90th All Year Round

"Infinity War" Release Date Moved Up a Week:

Good news Marvel fans, we are all going to see "Avengers: Infinity War" even sooner than we thought we would.

Today, Marvel Studios along with Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) on Twitter made a huge announcement in that "Avengers: Infinity War" will now hit theaters on April 27. Up until today the film was supposed to be released in the usual Marvel film spot in May on May 4. The movie will now be released worldwide on the same date. 

It is believed that Marvel did this to protect American viewers from spoilers as international viewers would have seen the film a week earlier than Americans did on the original release date of May 4. Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, has previously stated that 'Infinity War' will have major ramifications on the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

How excited are you that "Avengers: Infinity War" will now be released on April 27 instead of May 4?

Celebrate Mickey Mouse's 90th Birthday All Year Round:

Disney is planning a worldwide and year long celebration of the main man himself, Mickey Mouse for his 90th birthday beginning this month on March 7. This will begin with "The Happiest Show on Earth" fashion show that will feature a Mickey-inspired collection designed by couture brand Opening Ceremony founders Carol Lim and Humberto Leon. The show will also serve as Opening Ceremony’s Spring 2018 runway show, and the special “mouse-terpieces” will close out fashion week celebrations around the world. 

You can join in on this festive fashion extravaganza, as select items from the Mickey collaboration will be immediately available for sale following the runway show at shopDisney.com, OpeningCeremony.com, and Opening Ceremony stores, while remaining ready-to-wear looks will hit stores in November. Of course, no fashion show is complete without Minnie Mouse! The icon—who shares this milestone anniversary with Mickey and who recently received her official star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—will also be celebrated at the fashion show.

The fun continues for 2018 and beyond with exclusive events from D23: The Official Disney Fan Club:

• D23 and the Walt Disney Archives, in partnership with Walt Disney Animation Studios, have commissioned legendary Disney animator Mark Henn to paint Mickey’s official 90th birthday portrait. Henn follows in the footsteps of artists such as Disney Legend John Hench, who crafted five of Mickey’s official portraits. Henn animated Mickey for Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983) and is currently at work on Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 (2018). The new portrait will debut on the cover of the fall issue of Disney twenty-three, a publication of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club.
• This November, D23 will present Destination D: Celebrating Mickey Mouse, a two-day event at Walt Disney World Resort featuring panels, presentations and fun-filled entertainment.
• This year’s annual D23 Gold Member gift is an exclusive box set of 23 special Mickey Mouse mementos—authentic reproductions of such treasured keepsakes as pages from the script of Steamboat Willie and a miniature animation cel from Parade of the Award Nominees (1932).

That's not all though as Mickey will be celebrated all across Disney in 2018 and beyond with these events:

• This fall, ABC will air a star-studded celebration of Mickey in honor of his birthday, with special guests, musical performances and more.
• Disney Channel will debut season five of the Mickey Mouse animated shorts, including a special seven-minute extended-length birthday episode that will air later this year.
• Walt Disney Parks and Resorts around the world will celebrate Mickey’s 90th on November 18, marking the day with commemorative merchandise, photo locations, and more.
• Beginning in late 2018 and into 2019 the World’s Biggest Mouse Party, saluting Mickey and Minnie, will take place at Disney parks worldwide.
• Disney On Ice will salute Mickey as the “True Original” host of Disney On Ice since its inception in 1981 by creating Mickey’s 90th pre-shows for productions touring the United States, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
• Disney On Ice presents Mickey’s Special Celebration, a new production showcasing Mickey Mouse’s memories throughout the years, will launch in Japan in July 2018 and continue touring throughout the Asia-Pacific region until August 2019.
• In France, 38 design and art schools will take part in “Mickey Is Art,” a unique contest in which students will craft works of Mickey, inspired by their favorite artistic movement. The winning designs will be displayed this summer in 12 major train stations in France and for sale this September at Galerie Glénat in Paris.
• Disney store will continue to celebrate milestone moments for Mickey Mouse with the Mickey Mouse Memories Collection (launched Jan 2018), a monthly, limited-release series of 12 collectible plush, mugs, and cloisonné pins inspired by Mickey’s most memorable movie roles.
• Disney Publishing Worldwide will introduce more than 30 titles globally as part of Mickey’s 90th, including books, arts & crafts, and comics.

Follow along all year round on social media by following along with the hashtag #Mickey90. 

Source: D23