MickeyBlog News for April 17th, 2023
This past week, Disneyland and Walt Disney World sold some annual passes, Disneyland added a new after-hours ticketed event, and Disneyland Paris did the opposite.
I’ll explain all of it in the latest MickeyBlog News.
The Annual Pass Update
Photo: Disneyland
On April 11th, Disneyland Resort reopened sales for its Magic Key annual passes.
As usual, two of the four Magic Keys sold out within a day.
Photo: DIsneyland
Current owners may still renew the Believe and Enchant Keys, but they’re not available as new purchases.
As of this writing, Disneyland fans may still buy the Imagine and Inspire Magic Keys. These are, respectively, the cheapest and most expensive Magic Keys.
We don’t know how long either option will remain open to new sales, as Disney has remained secretive regarding Magic Key allotments.
Similarly, Walt Disney World recently reopened annual pass sales for one specific option and to one specific group.
Photo: WDW Magazine
Disney Vacation Club members could purchase the Disney Sorcerer Pass as of Thursday, April 13th.
Park officials warned DVC owners that the Sorcerer Pass might sell out quickly.
Disney Vacation Club
Credit: Disney
For this reason, many started trying to buy first thing on Thursday morning. As has become typical with such Disney offerings, the virtual queue proved disastrous.
My wife couldn’t complete the transaction the first time and had to switch to the My Disney Experience app and start all over again, wasting 75 minutes.
The new logo
Eventually, we were able to buy the Sorcerer Pass, the first time we’ve owned an annual pass in more than two years.
Ours expired during the pandemic when DVC wasn’t allowing renewals.
The point here is that Disney is trending the right way again with annual passes.
On Thursday, April 20th, all four annual passes will go on sale for everyone. Free advice: accept that it could take a while. Also, use the My Disney Experience app!
Disney has again warned people that the annual passes could sell out quickly.
Since they haven’t been on sale since 2021, you definitely don’t want to miss your window!
More Disneyland Updates
Photo: Travel and Leisure
Disneyland Resort remained in the news with three other announcements.
First, Disney just announced when the Disneyland Park version of Splash Mountain will close. And this one makes much more sense than the previous rumor.
Photo: OC Register/Joshua Sudock
Some had suggested May 7th as the closing date, but that story collapsed within hours.
Now, Disney has spoken. Disneyland Park will shut down Splash Mountain forever on May 31st.
Photo: Disney
Obviously, that’s several months after Magic Kingdom’s version, but it makes sense. Disney will need less time on the shorter Disneyland version.
I love this move, too. By keeping Splash Mountain open through Memorial Day Weekend, the ride can siphon holiday traffic before it closes a couple of days later.
Also at Disneyland Resort, Rogers: The Musical will debut on June 30th!
Disney California Adventure will present this show at the Hyperion Theater.
Credit: Disney
Given the popularity of the concept, you should expect sellouts throughout the summer, too!
Finally, Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite will debut this summer! On June 13th and June 15th, park guests can buy tickets to this after-hours event.
Credit: Disney
Pride Nite will operate from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on these nights, giving guests four hours of exclusive park time.
Since this one’s a first at Disneyland, you definitely don’t want to miss it!
The Walt Disney World Update
Photo: Disney
Let’s start with the news that makes me happiest. The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival has announced its dates for this year!
The 2023 version of the event will start on July 27th and last through November 18th.
2022 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival
MickeyBlog’s Jess Landers has already compiled a list of everything confirmed to return for this year’s Food & Wine exhibition.
The 2023 event will start a bit later than usual, but it’s also operating until five days before Thanksgiving.
Photo: Orlando Date Night Guide
So, Walt Disney World will host the event throughout the second half of 2023 until such a time as it’s ready to replace Food & Wine with Festival of the Holidays.
In other EPCOT news, Garden Grill at the Land pavilion will serve breakfast again soon!
Breakfast returns on June 14th, which is less than two months from now. MickeyBlog has already posted the new breakfast menu, too!
Garden Grill is famous for its character meal, and I’m not mentioning that randomly.
Guests at Walt Disney World this week noticed a pleasant surprise.
Now that the 50th anniversary celebration has ended, the parks have switched straight to #Disney100 gear.
Some Walt Disney World characters are now appearing in their Disney100 costumes! The centennial celebration just got real!
Meanwhile, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, something will happen in 2024. During a recent Star Wars event, park officials revealed a tantalizing proposition.
Next year, Disney will add new scenes to Star Tours – The Adventures Continue! Could The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda be in them?
Photo: Disney
Disney hasn’t announced anything specific yet, but these additions strike me as likely.
Finally, you may notice another change while you’re driving around Walt Disney World.
Disney has posted digital signs on some roads leading to the parks. You can take a look at some photos here.
The Disneyland Paris Update
Photo: Disney
We haven’t discussed international parks in MickeyBlog News since the pandemic since everything remains in a state of flux.
However, Disneyland Paris just announced several impending changes as part of its birthday celebration.
Photo: Disney
For starters, Disneyland Paris won’t host any after-hours ticketed events this holiday season.
That may sound like bad news, but it’s really not. In lieu of upsell events, the parks will offer “enhanced experience(s) and extended hours.”
⚠️ Breaking: the 2023 Disneyland Paris Halloween Parties and the New Year’s Eve Party have been canceled. Instead, the Resort will offer an enhanced experience and extended hours with regular admission on October 31 and December 31. pic.twitter.com/r7kgbuOo72
— DLP Report (@DLPReport) April 14, 2023
In other words, Disneyland Paris will provide a more inclusive holiday season for all paying guests rather than the select few who splurge for after-hours tickets.
I doubt Disney’s American parks follow suit, but I love the idea in theory. I’m curious how well it works in practice.
Photo: Disney
Disneyland Paris also announced a new Luca theme coming to the dining room at Pizzeria Bella Notte Restaurant.
Disney and Pixar’s new Luca-themed dining room in the Pizzeria Bella Notte Restaurant at @DisneyParis_EN is here! 🐟 Attention to detail is everywhere from the charm of the Italian Riviera to inspiration from Luca’s hometown of Portorosso and Italian delicacies! ✨ pic.twitter.com/AZnlkhZik7
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) April 14, 2023
This change represents but one of several Pixar additions coming soon.
HD concept art and logo for the Fuente Del Oro Restaurant retheme to “Casa de Coco – Restaurante de la Familia”: pic.twitter.com/clXVlkylRK
— DLP Report (@DLPReport) April 12, 2023
Management in Paris can also read a calendar, as the parks will celebrate Disney100 starting on October 16th, the correct date!
Disneyland Paris will celebrate #Disney100 on October 16, 2023 with a special slate of entertainment and surprises in the Parks. pic.twitter.com/IkYhWfqhmV
— DLP Report (@DLPReport) April 12, 2023
Oh, and there’s also this:
Gorgeous, right? The entire ongoing redesign at Disneyland Paris is breathtaking. You can read more about it here.
Okay, that’s everything for this week. Good luck with your upcoming annual pass attempt, Walt Disney World fans!
Image: MickeyBlog
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Feature Photo: Disneyland Paris
