MickeyBlog News for May 13th, 2024

This week, Disney celebrated #HalfwaytoHalloween, while some of us relished the announcement of the new Island Tower.

Happy days are here again in MickeyBlog News!

Photo: Disney

This Is (Halfway to) Halloween!

Hopefully, the soundtrack gets you in the right mood for the following update.

As of the start of May, we’re officially Halfway to Halloween! As usual, Disney has celebrated the event as a real holiday.

Photo: Disney

The social media team spent the week announcing new details about how Disney parks will spend the Halloween season.

Let’s start with the biggie. We now know the dates for the 2024 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP).

Photo: Disney

From August 9^th through October 31st, guests can party with Mickey and his not-so-scary friends.

There’s an argument to be made – and I’ve made it – that this party stands as the pinnacle of Disney after-hours events.

Photo: Disney

You can stay at the park when it’s closed to regular guests and interact with several of your favorite Disney characters, too.

Many of these character interactions will involve rare appearances like Stitch in his Elvis costume and several shy members of the Hundred-Acre Wood crew.

Photo: Disney

The tickets for the 2024 version of the event range from $119 to $199.

The dates for this year’s party are:

• August 9^th, 13^th, 16^th, 20^th, 23^rd, 27^th, 30^th
• September 2^nd, 6^th, 8^th, 10^th, 13^th, 15^th, 17^th, 20^th, 22^nd, 24^th, 26^th, 27^th, 29^th
• October 1^st, 3^rd, 4^th, 6^th, 8^th, 10^th, 11^th, 14^th, 15^th, 17^th, 18^th, 20^th, 21^st, 24^th, 25^th, 27^th, 29^th, 31^st

Photo: Disney

Those of you staying at an official Disney resort during MNSSHP can go ahead and book. Everyone else can join in on May 15^th.

We also received a sneak peek at the Halloween merchandise available this fall at the parks and DisneyStore.com.

Frankenstein Cookie for Halfway to Halloween at Gideon’s Bakehouse

For those of you who don’t want to wait, Gideon’s Bakehouse is selling some Halfway to Halloween baked goods right now.

Let’s just say they were a big hit with our reporters!

More Halloween Updates

Photo: Disney

Disneyland Resort will bring back a beloved favorite as well.

Park officials confirmed the return of Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party!

Photo: Disney

The 2024 version will occur on 27 dates, with the first party thrown on August 25^th.

Disneyland went ahead and told us all the Halloween festivities available for 2024, and it’s a lot!

Photo: Disney

Not to be outdone, Magic Kingdom will add plenty of spicy new offerings to its Halloween party. We even know about the dessert party.

Then again, you don’t need to be on land to celebrate Halloween.

DCL

Disney Cruise Line has already shown off Mickey & Minnie’s new Halloween garb. It’s adorable.

So, yes, Halloween on the High Seas will return in 2024.

Photo: Disney

Finally, as a special Halfway to Halloween treat, Disney revealed more secrets about the Haunted Mansion Parlor coming this year.

Folks, you will want to visit Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and/or the Disney Treasure this Halloween season.

Photo: Entertainment Weekly/Disney

The 2024 events have leveled up the spooky but silly vibe.

Welcome to the Island Hotel!

Photo: DVC

Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows will get even better soon.

As MickeyBlog has tracked, Disney is building an expansion tower on the Polynesian campus.

Image Credit: Disney

We’d known for a while that this tower will debut in 2024. This past week, Disney provided even more context.

Disney has named this structure the Island Hotel, and it’ll open in December!

Credit: Disney

We don’t know the exact date, but we’ll learn that soon enough.

I say this because hotel reservations will go on sale to the general public on June 6^th.

Credit: Disney

That’s less a month from now, and you might even be able to book a couple of days earlier, depending on your level of fandom.

Annual passholders may book rooms at the Island Tower starting on June 5^th, while Disney Vacation Club members get the first crack.

DVC Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Resort

Those of us in DVC can book on June 4^th, which is news in and of itself.

Historically, DVC members have had several extra days to book at a new property. This time, the total gap is just two days.

DVC Tower

So, if you’re a non-DVC member and non-passholder, this is excellent news!

As long as you’re ready to book on June 6^th, you’ll be among the first wave of people to experience the new hotel.

Credit: Disney

MickeyTravels agent and MickeyBlog writer Holly Ramey provided additional details about the new place, including pictures.

Let’s just say that the place looks amazing, but it also honors the Polynesian rather than seeming dissimilar.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Entrance

That’s important to Disney purists, as the Polynesian is arguably Disney World’s most historically significant resort.

The last thing Disney wants is for the new expansion tower to feel out of place on the Polynesian campus.

DVC

Thankfully, I’m happy to report it comes across as perfectly in keeping with the Polynesian’s exotic island theme and vibe.

Disneyland Miscellany

Photo: Disneylandforward

Let’s start with the story that will impact Disneyland Resort the most over the next several decades.

Disney has successfully lobbied for the DisneylandForward initiative. In fact, the vote was unanimous.

Concept art of Third Theme Park expansion at Disneyland
Image Credit: Disney

Kristin Sabol and I both discussed what this means, and I’ll post another article this week about possible attractions/franchises.

For now, what matters is that Disney has modernized local zoning ordinances to create its vision of a better theme park experience.

That vision will unfold over the next 40 years, but something will happen at the park much sooner.

Fantasmic! is finally ready to return after a yearlong absence due to…unpleasantness.

Photo: Disney

Now, Blue Bayou is offering Fantasmic! packages as a way to guarantee a seat for the show.

You should strongly consider booking one of these, as Fantasmic! will probably be in high demand when it returns.

Photo: D23

The other big story Disneyland story of the week is that Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln will get some love this summer.

Other Park Miscellany

At Walt Disney World, the Polynesian may be getting a new expansion tower, but the regular hotel still has the occasional oops.

Last year, somebody in the kitchen mixed the wrong chemicals. Then, this past week, there was a water leak in the lobby.

Michelin Star

On the bright side, annual passholders can eat cheaper at Disney World right now due to a new dining discount.

Also, Victoria & Albert’s has officially received its Michelin Star, rewarding 20+ years of the restaurant’s dedication to excellence.

Guest Shipping Station

The other Disney World news is that Disney Springs has opened a UPS shipping station. That feels like entrapment to me.

Hey eBay sellers! You probably don’t wanna ship 20 popcorn buckets here. It’s a dead giveaway.

Tiana’s Update

Right as we were going to publication, Disney also announced the official opening date for Tiana’s Bayou Journey.

Apparently, that wasn’t supposed to happen, though. Disney later removed the story and promised an update during American Idol. Stay tuned!

Photo: Disney

Finally, we got our first look at Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea.

The attractions look spectacular, and rumors abound that some will transition to American theme parks.

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