MickeyBlog News for March 18th, 2024
This week, Disney vastly improved its dining reservation system, announced details about two popular events, and revealed new deals.
We’re going to cover a lot of ground in this week’s MickeyBlog News. So, buckle up, as this ride’s gonna go fast!
Disney Dining Becomes Simpler
Last week, I discussed quality-of-life updates and other tech terms that I know bore you to tears.
I had to mention them because the My Disney Experience app added a new option last week, and Disney promised more coming soon.
Well, “soon” turned out to be less than 48 hours later! No joke, that’s how long it took Disney to add the second update.
I presume the only reason the app didn’t include everything at once was to guarantee the first part worked right.
After Disney had verified that, it quickly added the enhancements, which are the game-changers for out-of-towners.
Forevermore, Disney fans can search for Advanced Dining Reservations for a single restaurant.
Then, we can examine up to ten days in advance to discover open tables.
Last week, I estimated that my family would reduce our dining reservation searches by 85 percent. If anything, I’m underselling that.
Over the past two weeks, Disney has fundamentally improved the user experience for dining reservations on My Disney Experience.
Pixar Fest Details
Next month, Pixar Fest will return to Disneyland Resort.
In anticipation of the proceedings, Disney officials released tons of new information about the event.
For starters, Disney California Adventure will host the new Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! Parade.
This parade will run twice a day, and it’ll feature roughly 25 Pixar characters, including Mei from Turning Red with her Red Panda look!
A returning favorite is Together Forever—A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular, which is shown nightly at Disneyland Park.
However, Disney has added new sequences from Pixar favorites like Elemental, Luca, Luca, Onward, and Soul. So, it’ll be more modern.
The Hollywood Backlot will also host Pixar-themed entertainment including games, characters, and photo ops.
You’ll also find the Pixar Pals Playtime Party at Fantasy Theatre throughout the day.
Perhaps the most tantalizing proposition is the arrival of the Pixar-themed marketplaces. And we’re getting an Elemental Table this year!
Finally, Disney has released pictures of the food you’ll find at Pixar Fest. It looks so good that I’m craving rainbow-sliced cake.
The Disney Vacation Discussion
Okay, I’m gonna lump several different topics together here for convenience.
First, in case you haven’t been reading MickeyBlog this week – and shame you if so! – Walt Disney World crowds are real.
With the start of Spring Break, Disney raised the price of Disney Genie+ to 2024 highs.
Despite this fact, the digital service sold out for multiple parks on multiple days this past week.
MickeyBlog’s reporters captured plenty of crowd photos, and they are…sizable.
Meanwhile, if the thought of being at the parks excites you, I’ve got exceptional news.
Disney just unleashed a new wave of offers and booking options.
Specifically, you’ll find deals for spring and summer admission tickets.
These came on the heels of Disney opening the booking window for 2025 reservations.
As the cherry on top, Disney Cruise Line also revealed many of its itineraries for the summer of 2025.
And here’s where you really want to pay attention.
As Disney had hinted on social media, the Disney Fantasy will include several European trips.
Yes, in addition to the typical cruises to the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Alaska, you can speak several Western European cruises.
Real talk: If my wife notices that seven-night cruise around the British Isles, that’ll wind up my summer vacation next year.
Seriously, you should look at all these upcoming Disney vacation options, as they’re terrific…and available to book much earlier than usual.
You can speak with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner at MickeyTravels to learn more.
As a reminder, these experts know more about Disney vacations than anyone you’ll ever meet, but their services are entirely free to you!
Disney Miscellany
In other park news, H2O Glow Nights will return in 2024!
Starting in May, water park fans can choose between 18 different summer dates through August.
On these nights, you’ll enjoy exclusive access to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon at a time when it’s otherwise closed to guests with standard admission.
This event is always one of the most entertaining on the annual park calendar, and I’d describe it as wildly underrated to boot. Check it out!
Also at Walt Disney World, our reporters broke several stories this week, including the unexpected return of Kali River Rapids.
Disney had previously indicated that the wet ride would undergo renovations for several more weeks.
However, Imagineers worked their magic and managed to get the ride back up and running in time for Spring Break crowds.
We also noticed some updates that have happened at Jungle Cruise.
You should filter through the pictures to appreciate how much thought Disney puts into the little details to accentuate the entire experience.
We also caught a couple of details at Magic Kingdom, including the test of log flumes at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. It’s all happening!
Then, on Main Street, U.S.A., we caught a glimpse of the new Cast Member uniforms coming soon.
Disney Miscellany Part II
At EPCOT, park loyalists are about to hear something that will be music to their ears.
The Land Pavilion is once again looping the original soundtrack from 1982!
And I’ve got one other Walt Disney World update for the week. We just learned the menus and pricing when 1900 Park Fare returns.
Still, even as an EPCOT evangelist, I have to say that the best Disney news of the week came from Disneyland Resort.
Patrick Warburton put on his pilot uniform for the first time in ages and surprised guests at Soarin’ Over California!!!
This video is my everything:
Have a great week, everyone, and may your March Madness brackets remain intact for at least the next seven days!
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Feature Photo: Disney