There are exciting new things popping up every day at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida! Join us every week to read about what’s new “Around the Mouse.” This week’s Walt Disney World news update features: new Haunted Mansion merchandise shop, tests with MemoryMaker and FastPass+, tons of Halloween Treats and much more!
Walt Disney World Theme Parks
Magic Kingdom Park
New! Memento Mori Haunted Mansion-themed Shop Now Open: Memento Mori, the Haunted Mansion-themed merchandise shop, is officially open in Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom Park just in time for Halloween. You may recall reading about this new location in early September. Once considered the abode of Madame Leota, this shop is the destination for a variety of Haunted Mansion Authentic merchandise created especially for Disney Parks. The Disney Parks online store will be carrying select items from the Haunted Mansion Authentic program. Visit http://www.DisneyStore.com/HauntedMansion.
New! Another Night Sold Out for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is officially sold out for Thursday, October 9. As a reminder, October 30 and 31 were previously sold out. Currently, tickets are still available for: Oct 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, and 28.
New! Single Day Memory Maker Add On in Testing: A test is being conducted at Magic Kingdom Sept. 26-Oct. 31 in which a new single-day Memory Maker addon is available for sale to Guests when purchased with a one-day Magic Your Way ticket or a ticket to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This package is sold exclusively at Vacation Planning at the Transportation and Ticketing Center. It is not known if this offering will continue past Oct 31.
Epcot
New! Retro EPCOT Center Merchandise Coming Soon: These new retro Epcot items feature artwork created by Disney Design Group. The artwork is an update to the previous retro artwork introduced in 2012 for the 30th Anniversary of Epcot. The artists were inspired by some of the simple graphics that were used in the early days of EPCOT Center. The artwork will be featured on some T-shirts, a baseball cap and a D-Tech on Demand case for the iPhone 5/5S (there are no immediate plans for a D-Tech on Demand case for the iPhone 6 using this artwork). There will also be a sweatshirt and long-sleeved tee as well as a key chain. Look for these items at Mouse Gear.
Reminder! Malestrom Permanently Closed: The last day of operation for Maelstrom was October 5. Construction will begin October 6 on a new “Frozen” attraction at the Norway Pavilion. The Norway Pavilion will remain open through construction. Replacing Maelstrom, the new “Frozen” attraction will immerse Guests in many of their favorite moments from the film.
Reminder! Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Under Way: From now until November 10, taste your way around the world at 28 International Marketplaces. Remember to check out the Eat to the Beat Concert Series at America Gardens Theatre at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m.. There are also many special festival experiences at the Festival Welcome Center hosted by Transitions® adaptive lenses™ – open daily 9 a.m. – park close including: Culinary demonstrations – daily at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. ($15 per person); Wine and beverage seminars – daily at 12, 2 and 4 p.m. ($15 per person); Mixology seminars – daily at 6 p.m. ($15 per person); The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar- Hosted by Ghirardelli® Chocolate Company – daily from 9 a.m. – park close (Free); Back to Basics (new this year!) – Sundays at 12:15, 2:15, 4:15 and 6:15 p.m.; Book, bottle signings and meet and greets; Seasons of the Vine film; Intermissions Cafe – 9 a.m. – park close; The Festival Center Wine Shop and The Stockpot Shop – 9 a.m. – park close. Check out of photos of the Festival here.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
New! Toy Story Midway Mania FastPass+ Only Test: During Oct 6 – 9, a test is being conducted at Toy Story Midway Mania where only guests with FastPass+ reservations will be allowed to ride. There is no standby queue available. Additional FastPass+ opportunities have been made available during this time so that Guests can add Toy Story Midway Mania FP+ selections to their plans via the kiosk or the My Disney Experience app.
Reminder! Frozen Holiday Premium Package Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios: A new Frozen Holiday Premium Package was announced this week! Offered November 7 – 19, November 21 – December 9 and December 11 – January 4, 2015, this package includes reserved seating for a performance of “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” at the Premiere Theatre, and reserved Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights viewing and Frozen-themed dessert party (which will feature mini Anna cupcakes and mini Elsa cupcake, among other delicious treats) in the evening, and a holiday themed lithograph and “Frozen” pin. The package costs $89 per adult and $59 per child (ages 3 – 9), plus tax (gratuity is included). Valid theme park admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is required and is not included in this package price.
Reminder! Specialty Halloween Cupcake Now Available: A Halloween specialty cupcake is now available at select quick service locations at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This Halloween carrot cupcake is anything but bad luck! Instead, it will charm your day! For just $5.19 each, this treat will be available at the following quick service locations: FairFax Fare, Pizza Planet, Starring Rolls, Backlot Express, ABC Commissary, Studio Catering Co., and Rosie’s All American Café. This treat is included in Disney Dining Plan and available through Nov. 2.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
New! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Awarded Prestigious Conservation Award: At the recent annual Association of Zoos and Aquariums meeting, Disney’s Animal Kingdom was recognized for our success with breeding a very special African bird. They received Top Honors (1st place) as the 2014 Edward H. Bean Award recipient for our Taveta golden weaver sustainability program. The Edward H. Bean Award is a historic award within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) recognizing rearing or management programs that contribute to the reproductive success of one or more species (and/or subspecies). Award eligibility takes into account the significance of the breeding program for the conservation of the species and the long-term commitment to the breeding program. It identifies a truly significant effort that clearly enhances the conservation of a species.
New! Affection Section Closed for Refurbishment: The Affection Section petting area at Rafiki’s Planet Watch is closed for refurbishment through Nov. 10. Although Affection Section is closed, Guests may still experience the animal encounters in and around Conservation Station. Other offerings at Rafiki’s, including Gi-Tar Dan, Out of the Wild merchandise location and Chip & Dale character greetings are still available during this time. The Affection Section will reopen to Guests Nov. 11.
New! Discovery Island Popcorn Kiosk Reopens Oct. 11: The Discovery Island Popcorn kiosk is currently closed for refurbishment and will reopen Oct. 11. During this time, Guests can buy popcorn at the Isle of Java kiosk on Discovery Island right after crossing the bridge from Oasis.
Reminder! Character Dining Times Extended at Tusker House: From Oct. 4 to Dec. 24, Tusker House will extend their character dining hours to 5 p.m. However, when park hours are until 7 p.m. or later, a dinner buffet without characters is offered from 6:15 p.m. to park close. During this time, the following character dining experiences will be offered: Breakfast: 8-10:55 a.m., Lunch: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., *Lunch extends to 5:30 p.m. if the park is open until 6 p.m.
Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
New! Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground Pony Ride Price Change: Effective immediately, pony rides at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will have a price change. Guests will now be charged $8 per pony ride. All pony riders must weigh under 80 pounds, be under 48 inches and be led by an adult guardian. No reservations are required. Cash and MagicBands are accepted. Rides are available daily from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
New! Halloween Treats Arrive at Disney’s BoardWalk Bakery: Take a look at the new specialty Halloween cupcakes from BoardWalk Bakery. Vanilla cake with caramel apple filling, topped with whipped cream—it’s like eating an apple pie inside of a cupcake. Whether you choose the bat or ghost cupcake, you can’t go wrong.
New! Halloween Treats Arrive at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge pastry team has concocted creepy treats for Halloween. There’s something to please every palate—creamy pumpkin cheesecake and scones, spooky skeleton brownies, chocolate cupcakes with candy corn filling topped with buttercream and my favorite—a gooey chocolate-pecan torte.
New! Halloween Treats Arrive at Disney’s Contemporary Resort: Step off the monorail at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and check out the spooktacular Halloween sweets. At Contempo Café, you’ll find a creepy, crawly cupcake—white cake with marshmallow filling topped with buttercream frosting and an itsy bitsy sugar spider on a chocolate web. It also seems goblins have taken over Chef Mickey’s, garnishing everything from cookies and brownies to fruit tarts and cheesecakes.
Reminder! Monorail Service Hours Adjustment: Effective beginning the night of Sept. 27, the Walt Disney World daily monorail service will run:
▪ on the Magic Kingdom Resort beam until 1 hour after park close and resume every morning beginning at 7 a.m.
▪ on the Epcot beam until 1 hour after Magic Kingdom Park closes or 11 p.m. (whichever is earlier) and resume every morning at 8 a.m.
▪ on the Magic Kingdom Express beam until 1 hour after park close and resume every morning at 8:30 a.m.
Walt Disney World Resort – General
New! Haunted Mansion-themed Dooney & Bourke Bags Released: The Haunted Mansion-themed Dooney & Bourke bags were released at select stores starting on Monday, Oct. 6. In Florida, this new collection will be sold at Uptown Jewelers in Magic Kingdom Park on Main Street, U.S.A.
New! runDisney 2015 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Medals Revealed: All eight medals have been revealed for the 2015 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna, This year, runDisney is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge. Runners participate in the half marathon on Saturday and the marathon on Sunday, 39.3 miles over 2-days. Once they cross the finish line of the marathon, they not only receive a marathon medal, but they also earn the commemorative anniversary Goofy medal.
New! Raglan Road Offers New Weekend Brunch: Raglan Road, the Irish Pub at Downtown Disney, now presents The Rollicking Raglan Weekend Brunch. The brunch menu brimming with Irish taste treats, and the pub’s mixologists offer a selection of signature cocktails created just for The Rollicking Raglan Brunch. Brunch guests can tuck into the chef’s Full Irish Breakfast featuring sausage, black and white pudding, bacon, roasted tomato, mushrooms and fried eggs with potato “roasties.” Other brunch options include a Smoked Salmon Omelette, pancakes with crème fraiche, maple syrup and berry compote, as well as Chef Dundon’s “Host the Roast!” traditional family dining experience. “Host the Roast!” is reminiscent of an authentic Irish Sunday lunch with premium signature roasts ranging from rib of beef and pork loin to stuffed leg of lamb and lemon thyme chicken carved tableside by a Raglan Road chef and accompanied by family-style side dishes like glazed carrots, gratin potatoes, green beans and sauces.The Rollicking Raglan Brunch is available Saturday & Sunday from 10 a.m – 3 p.m., with entertainment from noon – 4. Brunch entrees range from $8 to $26. Chef Dundon’s “Host the Roast!” must be booked 48 hours in advance and runs $35-$55 per person depending on the type of roast ordered.
Reminder! Walt Disney World Park Rules Updated: In an effort to make park rules clearer and more consistent at Disney Parks worldwide, Disney has made some updates to existing rules. They have also made them easier to find on their websites and they have added some of the rules to new signs at the theme park entries. To review of Disney Parks Rules, visit www.disneyland.com/parkrules and www.disneyworld.com/parkrules.
Reminder! La Nouba “Dinner & A Show” package: On sale now, with shows starting on Tuesday, September 30, guests can purchase a special “Dinner & A Show” package that include a ticket to the 6:00 p.m. “La Nouba” show plus dinner – an entrée, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage – at one of three Downtown Disney West Side restaurants: Wolfgang Puck Café, Planet Hollywood or Splitsville Luxury Lanes. With an option to dine by 4:30 p.m. before the show, or make it a later evening with a post-performance dinner after 8:00 p.m., there’s an option for everyone.
Merchandise Events
▪ October 2 – 12: Artist David E. Doss returns to the Walt Disney World Resort. Look for special appearances by David, October 2 – 12 and 23 – 29 at Art of Disney in Downtown Disney Marketplace.
▪ October 8 – 12: Artist Greg McCullough will make special appearances and signings this month at the Walt Disney World Resort. Meet Greg, October 8 – 12 at Art of Disney in Epcot or October 15 – 19 and October 30 – November 5 at Art of Disney in Downtown Disney Marketplace.
▪ October 9 – 12: Meet artist Larry Dotson who will be making appearances throughout the month at the Walt Disney World Resort. Look for Larry to appear at Main Street Cinema in Magic Kingdom Park, October 9 – 12 and 23 – 26 and at Art of Disney in Epcot, October 16 – 19.
▪ October 10 – November 3: The latest releases from Precious Moments doll designer and artist Linda Rick, including her new Halloween collection are coming! Linda will appear throughout the day October 10 – 12 and again October 31 – November 1 at Once Upon A Toy in Downtown Disney Marketplace.
Written by Lori Wall: Lori is a lifelong fan and visitor of Walt Disney World! Her love of Disney World has grown through visits with her own family as well as through planning magical vacations for others! Lori is an expert in maximizing vacations while sticking to a travel budget. Contact her about saving an extra 5% off your Disney vacation with an insider tip! Book your vacation with Lori at (845) 698- 0102 or request a price online.
