MickeyBlog News for June 19th, 2023
As I type this, the temperature is 86 degrees. Now seems like a good time to talk about December at Disney, right?
We’ll embrace the fact that we’re halfway to the holidays in this week’s MickeyBlog News.
The Holidays at Magic Kingdom
Friends, I’m happy to report that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will return later this year.
Disney has confirmed 25 dates for this event. Also, tickets will cost $159-$199 per person plus tax, which is on a par with last year.
Thus far, Bob Iger, the CEO of The Walt Disney Company, has largely kept his promise to keep theme park prices in check. As for the event, the holiday party is always magical.
Beloved events and presentations like Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration and Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks are back for 2023.
We will get something new this year as well. Disney has announced the Frozen Holiday Surprise, which will replace the former A Frozen Holiday Wish.
Disney described the new Frozen presentation with a promise that it ““will illuminate the castle in a whole new way.”
Disney has also confirmed the return of three different holiday overlays during the party.
Those are Space Mountain, Mad Tea Party, and Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor.
I’m not including Jingle Cruise since that’s an all-day change at the park, and it begins in early November, typically on November 1st.
Speaking of which, remember that some of the festivities from the paid event, like Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, turn free to all Magic Kingdom guests during Christmas Week.
Also, Santa Claus will appear at Magic Kingdom. In fact, Mr. Kringle will greet all the good girls and boys at all four theme parks, plus a water park and Disney Springs!
Management also confirmed that the virtual queue for Tron Lightcycle / Run will continue during the party.
So, your odds of riding the roller coaster are really good during the holiday party!
The Holidays at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Remarkably, the news at Hollywood Studios is even more impressive.
I say this because Disney shocked everyone with a new after-hours event here.
Starting in November, guests can attend Disney Jollywood Nights.
From 8:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m., you can party at Hollywood Studios at a time when the park has closed to others.
Tickets for the ten dates of Disney Jollywood Nights list for $159-$179, which makes them slightly cheaper than Magic Kingdom’s after-hours event on average.
During this party, Disney will operate all the popular attractions at Hollywood Studios…and yes! I’m including Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Like with the Tron coaster, Rise of the Resistance will implement a virtual queue.
Hollywood Studios will also bring back Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!, which is so tinsel.
Also, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy will apparently appear in person as the hosts of a show at Theater of the Stars.
Similarly, the Hyperion Theater will host Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along exclusively during Disney Jollywood Nights!
The Hollywood Tower Hotel will also serve as home base for a thematic experience that recreates the Tip Top Club.
The Tip Top Club will be recreated in the Hollywood Tower Hotel Courtyard during Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. pic.twitter.com/hn9ztVDz0a
— Ashley Carter (@AshleyLCarter1) June 16, 2023
That sounds really cool, doesn’t it? Disney has added that The Hollywood Brown Derby will also host a jazz lounge.
So, that’s two exclusive events you can only experience when you visit Disney Jollywood Nights!
If you were on the fence about the party, that should make up your mind!
The Holidays Everywhere Else at Walt Disney World
First, let’s stress the important parts. Yes, your two favorite EPCOT events are returning!
The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will begin on November 24th and last through December 30th.
As usual, the World Showcase will host storytellers at various pavilions. You can watch these performers describe their holiday traditions.
Also, Disney confirmed the return of the Candlelight Processional, a favorite of many holiday guests at the parks. Disney’s retelling of the Nativity Story always features celebrity guests like Neil Patrick Harris and Edward James Olmos.
The initial announcement didn’t mention any specific guests for 2023, but those two are perennial favorites.
We did get one piece of bad news at EPCOT. The popular Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind holiday overlay won’t return in 2023.
You may recall that the attraction suffered a couple of hiccups during its holiday version last year. It may have proven too aggravating to fix.
Still, let’s be real. You’ll spend lots of time at EPCOT during the holidays because of those tasty festival treats!
The Holidays Everywhere Else at Walt Disney World
We’ve still got a few more highlights to discuss. For starters, the Merry Menagerie of winter animals is coming back to Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
As a reminder, it looks like this:
Similarly, the Christmas Tree Stroll will return at Disney Springs.
Thanks to some cast member wizardry, snow will fall at Town Center as well!
Disney has also revealed some of its holiday merchandise, including a matching outfit that you may not want your partner to see.
You should also know about a slew of new holiday offers Disney has published for the holiday season.
You should speak with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner at MickeyTravels to find the best holiday deal for your family.
These Diamond-Level Disney experts are the best in the business, but they perform their services for free to you!
Disney Miscellany
I know we’re running long this week, but let’s quickly discuss two big stories.
First, Disney’s Chief Financial Officer, Christine McCarthy, has taken a family medical leave-based retirement.
The executive will remain on Disney’s payroll into 2024 and help her temporary replacement, Kevin Lansberry, perform her duties.
Disney has painted this move as McCarthy’s choice, but sources suggested to the Wall Street Journal that she left after repeated clashes with Bob Iger.
McCarthy has worked in this role since 2015. So, Disney’s next earnings call in August will feature a different CFO for the first time in ages.
Meanwhile, early speculation suggests that this move could lead to Iger staying at Disney longer than suggested.
The other big story this week is the release of Elemental, a Pixar movie I highly recommend. It’s overflowing with Disney magic and charm.
Alas, this story of teen romance failed to entice audiences to watch it in theaters.
Elemental’s four-day holiday opening weekend box office of an estimated $29.5 million simply isn’t good enough for Pixar/Disney.
Future Disney/Pixar projects must entice consumers to return to theaters to watch them.
As good as Elemental is – and it’s sporting a Rotten Tomatoes score of 76 percent and an A Cinemascore – its marketing campaign failed.
Disney fans should give Elemental a chance, though. It’ll make you happy.
Okay, that’s everything for this week. Happy Father’s Day and Juneteenth to all.
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