Disney Discussions Weekly Recap for the Week of 10/27/24
Disney is prepping for the Holidays; Marvel announces its Disney+ plans for 2025, and construction updates.
I hope everyone had a great October, and now we enter my favorite time of the year, the Christmas Holidays. This week, Disney is prepping for the Holidays; Marvel announces its Disney+ plans for 2025 and construction updates.
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This Week’s Disney News 🐭
Walt Disney World News 🏰:
🎄 Magic Kingdom Transforms Overnight: First Look at 2024 Holiday Decorations - WDWMAGIC
🍳 Breakfast Returning to Satu’li Canteen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom - Laughing Place
Menu:
Tropical Pandoran Forest Fruits
Cinnamon French Toast
Slow-roasted Pork Shoulder Potato Hash w/ sausage
Vegetable-Goat Cheese Frittata w/ wood-fired beef.
🐬 Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Announces HUGE Transformation - WDWINFO
This is the Swan and Dolphin’s most extensive renovation and expansion, adding 120,000 square feet of event space. The $275 million investment, set to take place over the next several years, will include modern upgrades to current meeting spaces, Swan guest rooms, and technology enhancements throughout the property.
🚜 Disney Begins Refurbishment Preparations at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Large Scrim Installed - WDWMAGIC
A large scrim has been set up behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Magic Kingdom, concealing early construction activity as Disney prepares for the attraction's upcoming refurbishment.
🎇 Park Hours and Fireworks Schedule Released for New Year’s Eve 2024 at Walt Disney World - WDWNT
Magic Kingdom - open from 9 a.m. to midnight on December 30 and 31, with early entry at 8:30 a.m. The “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks display will be performed twice each night, at 6:30 p.m. and 11:50 p.m.
EPCOT - open from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on December 30 and 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. on December 31. “Luminous: The Symphony of Us” will be performed on December 31 at 6:30 p.m., followed by “Cheers to the New Year: A Sparkling Celebration” beginning at 11:54 p.m.
👷🏻♀️ Disney Files Key Permit for Tropical Americas Expansion at Animal Kingdom, Detailing Site Demolition Plan - WDWMAGIC
An essential permit with the South Florida Water Management District for the first phase of the Tropical Americas expansion, also known as Project Ro. The permit includes a detailed site demolition plan outlining which areas of Dinoland U.S.A. will be removed to make way for the new land's first attractions.
Disneyland News:
Disney’s New SLEEPING BEAUTY LOUNGE Is Now Open! - DisneyFoodBlog
The lounge is in the Disneyland Hotel, called the Broken Spell Lounge.
🕸️ Spider-Man Stuntronic Show Cuts Human Union Performers, Will Still Run with Robot Though - WDWNT
The stunt performers of the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) union are being cut from the show. It will continue with the stunt-performing robot made to look like the Marvel Super Hero. There will be no more rooftop stunts performed by a live actor, although a live actor will reportedly still climb down the building’s wall for the meet and greets following each show.
Disneyland Resort Auditioning for Return of Pixar-Themed Better Together Parade - WDWNT
Planning Tips for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland - Disney Parks Blog
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will make its highly anticipated debut at Disneyland Resort on November 15, 2024! To ride, you will be required to use the free virtual queue. A standby queue will not be available during the attraction’s opening days. The virtual queue enrollment times will be twice daily, at 7 a.m. and 12 p.m. PT. You can also purchase a Lightning Lane Multi-Pass to ride.
Reservations Open for Docking Bay 7 Nighttime Event at Disneyland - WDWINFO
Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo Nighttime Gathering costs $89 per person and does not include theme park admission or park reservations. You get dinner, drinks, and exclusive access to a standing view area of Falcon Overlook, where you can watch the Fire of the Rising Moons fireworks.
Disney Entertainment News 🎬:
🎵 ‘The GRAMMYs’ Have a New Home With Disney - WDWINFO
I do not like award shows, but this is a big “get” for Disney. This is a 10-year global agreement that, starting in 2027 and through 2036, The GRAMMYs will be exclusively simulcast on ABC, Hulu, and Disney+.
📺 Marvel announces its plans for Disney+ for the rest of the year and 2025
What If? S3 (animated) - Dec. 22
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (animated) - Jan. 25
Daredevil Born Again - Mar. 4
Ironheart - June 24
Eyes of Wakanda (animated) - Aug. 6
Marvel Zombies (animated) - Oct ‘25
Wonder Man - Dec ‘25
🏈 ‘The Simpsons’ Characters Appearing During Real-Time Animated Bengals vs. Cowboys Football Game - WDWNT
Bart and Homer of “The Simpsons” will participate in a real-time animated telecast of the December 9 Bengals vs. Cowboys Monday Night Football game.
Brand-New Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Trailer and Key Art Revealed - STARWARS.com
Muppets News 🐸 :
First Look at Disney Jollywood Nights Muppet Christmas Carol Photo Op - WDWNT
A preview of the photo op shows snow-covered windows in a fake brick wall featuring the silhouettes of Gonzo, Rizzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, and Beaker, all in their “Christmas Carol” outfits. The scene is captured with a robotic arm camera in the Stage 1 Company Store near Muppet*Vision 3D. Digital PhotoPass downloads from Jollywood Nights are included with an event ticket.
Disney Discussions Recap:
🧚 Pixie Dust ✨
Fun Facts:
The Disney resorts have begun decorating for the holidays. With that comes the gingerbread houses.
EPCOT will welcome a Gingerbread Spaceship Earth this year. This will be an 8-foot-tall gingerbread display, which took over 160 hours to create. It even lights up to music throughout the day.
The sphere comprises almost a thousand handcrafted gingerbread triangles to mirror the iconic attraction. There are 240 pounds of honey dough, 100 eggs, 100 ounces of lebkuchen spice, 55 pounds of dark chocolate, and 100 pounds of royal icing. There are 11 hidden Mickeys to represent the 11 countries of the World Showcase.
Read more about the fun holiday displays.
📸 Magic Shot of the Week:
We all have those photos we love from a Disney vacation. Every week, I’ll share one. They will be my photos, but I’d love for you to share yours so I can include them. Email me your Disney photo to photos@disneydiscussions.com, and it’ll go in a future weekly recap.
Disney Tip of the week:
Have a larger party, more than 6 people, going to a Disney sit-down restaurant, and having trouble finding reservations? Try to book two tables. There is more availability for tables of 6 or less. Then arrive 15-20 minutes early, let them know you have two tables, and ask Nicely if they can be combined or situated next to each other. It is not guaranteed, but they will usually accommodate your request.
I recently visited the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Fransico. Would you be interested in a post or 2, with videos and photos, of the visit?