“Star Wars” Weekends are coming in May and June to Walt Disney World. Join us to read more “Star Wars” Weekends news and more this week in Around the Mouse.
Walt Disney World Theme Parks
Magic Kingdom Park
New! Extra Daytime Parades through Feb 21, 2015: Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade will be performed twice daily through Feb.21, at noon and 3 p.m.
New! Park Hours Changed Feb 23 and 24, 2015: Magic Kingdom Park will be extending operating hours. Park close has been changed from 10:00pm to 11:00pm for Monday, February 23 and Tuesday, February 24, 2015.
New! PANDORA Jewelry Comes to Uptown Jewelers: The Disney Parks Collection | PANDORA is now available at a dedicated sales space in Uptown Jewelers at Magic Kingdom Park. PANDORA Jewelry representatives will work side by side with Disney Cast Members providing extensive product knowledge and Guest Service. In addition to other locations throughout the Walt Disney World Resort, the collection is also available on DisneyStore.com/Pandora. A grand opening for the location will take place in March.
Reminder! Lunch Reservations Coming to Be Our Guest Restaurant: Be Our Guest Restaurant at Magic Kingdom Park has been a Guest favorite at the Walt Disney World Resort since opening during the New Fantasyland expansion. Beginning Feb. 25, 2015, reservations can be made for the fast-casual lunch experience at Be Our Guest Restaurant. You will have the option to pre-order your meal 30 days prior up to 5 minutes before your reservation. Lunch is served daily from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Reservations can be made beginning Feb. 25, 2015 by visiting My Disney Experience, or by calling 407-WDW-DINE. The 180 day booking window applies. As with all dining reservations, a credit card guarantee is required at the time of reservation and the standard cancellation policy applies
Epcot
New! Outdoor Kitchens Return to Epcot Flower & Garden Festival: It’s the third year for the Outdoor Kitchens around World Showcase Lagoon, and the garden- and spring-inspired tapas-sized food and beverages just get more and more interesting. The new Botanas Botánico Outdoor Kitchen between France and Morocco pavilions will showcase treats like Cachapas with Farmer’s Cheese, a sweet yellow corn pancake, and Seafood Ceviche with shrimp, scallops and grouper with mango and avocado. Other new items include Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapeños at The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews Outdoor Kitchen, and the Quinoa Vegetable Naanwich with arugula pesto and oven-dried tomatoes at Urban Farm Eats. Protein fans will love everything from Confit de Canard (pulled duck confit) at Fleur De Lys to a spicy hot dog with pineapple chutney and sriracha mayo at Pineapple Promenade. There’s Harissa Chicken at Taste of Marrakesh and a Pulled Pig Slider at The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews. Florida Fresh will serve up hearty Shrimp and Stone-Ground Grits with Andouille Sausage and Jardin de Fiestas has tacos with achiote marinated pork.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
New! Star Wars Weekend Shows to Change Locations: “Star Wars” Weekends will be held every weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) from May 15 through June 14, 2015. This year, several exciting experiences are returning for our Guests during “Star Wars” Weekends including:
- The nightly “Summon the Force” performance featuring Star Wars characters and the “Symphony in the Stars” fireworks spectacular
- The ever-popular celebrity shows in their new location at Theater of the Stars, hosting more Guests than ever before
- Darth’s Mall in a new and expanded locationat Final Take Terminal near Streets of America
- “Star Wars” character dining at both Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant and Hollywood and Vine
- James Arnold Taylor as host of the 2015 “Star Wars” Weekends.
During “Star Wars” Weekends, Theater of the Stars will host both Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage and our celebrity shows for the event.
New! Pose with Oscar Statuette thru Feb 22, 2015: At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests can visit the park anytime this week to pose for a photo with an Oscar statuette. The “My Oscar Moment” photo opp will take place inside The Magic of Disney Animation building during regular park hours through Sunday, February 22. Here, guests can walk the red carpet and pose in front of a backdrop similar to the one that winning celebrities will use.
New! Park Hours Changed March 10, 2015: Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be extending operating hours for Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Park close has been changed from 8:00pm to 9:30pm. An additional Fantasmic! show time has been added at 10:00pm.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
New! New Cookbook Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Author Pam Brandon and the chefs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to put together “A Cooking Safari With Mickey,” a collection of recipes showcasing the flavorful cuisine of South Africa and India. The book will debut this Spring at Animal Kingdom.
Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
Reminder! Skip Front Desk, Go Directly to Resort Room: Beginning mid-February, eligible Guests staying in a Walt Disney World Resort hotel will have the option to go directly to their hotel room once it is ready, without the need to stop at the Front Desk. In order to directly go to their room, Guests must complete two steps: 1.Have MagicBands for current stay shipped to their home and 2.Complete the Online Check-In process including: Pay in full for their reservation or establish a credit card and PIN, and provide a method of communication (either text or email). If the Guest has completed all eligibility steps, they will receive a message via email and/or text prior to their arrival notifying them of their room number and the option of going directly to their room. Upon arriving at the hotel, the Guest will be greeted by Curbside Cast and will have the option to choose a traditional check-in or go directly to their room.
Reminder! Authentic Mask Artisan to Appear at Port Orleans: An authentic mask artisan will be available at Jackson Square Gifts and Desires at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter as part of an immersive merchandise program. These New Orleans treasures, including mask necklaces and earrings, will be sold on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.
New! Village Causeway and New Shops Open at Downtown Disney: Now officially open, the new Village Causeway at Downtown Disney provides Guests with another path of travel through the Marketplace, connecting the area near The LEGO Store across the water to Rainforest Café. With beautiful brickwork and handsome arches, the bridge also houses four new retail kiosks that are now open:
- Kate and Leo: Designed to evoke a world of curiosity, creativity and imagination, this charming cart features children’s toys, travel games, magnetic story boards, beautiful art supplies and more,
- Icon Jewellery by Bico: Offers jewelry for men and women, featuring iconic and inspirational designs focusing on concepts like love, protection, strength, and luck. Each piece can be customized and is crafted from hand-polished, fine grade pewter and enhanced with materials like Swarovski crystals, New Guinea rosewood and genuine leather.
- Flour and Sugar: Giving guests a taste of the Sunshine State, this shop offers fresh-baked, all-natural gourmet cookies with Florida flavors like coconut, key lime, strawberry and more.
- Florida Bath Company: Specializes in unique, Florida-themed bath products such as bath bombs, salts and soaps, made with home-grown ingredients including organic vegetable juices and essential citrus oils.
New! Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Reopened: Winter Summerland Miniature Golf was recently been closed for refurbishment, but has reopened to Guests as of Wednesday, February 18, 2015.
New! Richard Petty Driving Experience to Close Permanently: Richard Petty Driving Experience and the Exotic Driving Experience at the Walt Disney World Resort will close in late June to make room for future transportation improvements. Guests can call (407) WDW-PLAY to modify their reservation at Walt Disney World Resort. They can also visit www.drivepetty.com to move their reservation to another Richard Petty Driving Experience course, including their Daytona Beach location, or visit www.exoticdriving.com to modify their existing exotic driving experience reservation
Merchandise Events
February 19–24: David E. Doss will appear to debut some of his newest works at Art of Disney in the 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.