MickeyBlog News for September 23rd, 2024
Ice skating is coming to Walt Disney World, but it’s probably not like you’d expect.
So, I’ll explain what Glisten! Is and also why everyone was at EPCOT on Saturday.
Photo: Disney
This is a unique week of MickeyBlog News.
Disney on Ice Adjacent
Disney
Have you ever caught Disney on Ice? It’s a marvelous show Disney puts on, with a touring group of amazing skaters.
Now, Disney will take the same concept and bring it to the 2024 version of Jollywood Nights.
As Disney announced this week, the after-hours party will introduce Glisten! for 2024. There’s even a video teaser:
According to that clip, Glisten! Features “Champion skaters in gleaming performances, glitzy costumes, and glittering projections.”
Photo: Disney
The digital projections will occur at the Chinese Theatre. So, it’s in addition to the projections at the Hollywood Tower hotel.
Disney also promises holiday music for this new event, hosted on Hollywood Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Photo: Disney
There’s even more to the show, though. According to the Parks Blog, here’s what you can expect:
“Several times each evening, you’ll be swept away by the grace and skill of international champion skaters as they perform breathtaking routines set to a vibrant holiday soundtrack including original songs and Disney favorites like ‘Be Our Guest’ and ‘When You Wish Upon A Star.’”
Photo: Disney
So, if you were on the fence about Jollywood Nights or not planning to go, I’d highly recommend it. Glisten! sounds unforgettable!
About Jollywood Nights 2024
Speaking of Jollywood Nights, park officials just announced everything returning this year as well as the entirely new stuff.
In case you’ve forgotten, the event debuted last year and had an extremely shaky start.
Credit: Disney
By the final night, Disney had dramatically altered the perception of Jollywood Nights, making fans hopeful for its return.
Now, we’re getting that, and it’ll feature the best of both worlds.
Returning favorites include Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby, Disney Holidays in Hollywood, and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along.
As an FYI, Disney Holidays in Hollywood is actually the one to prioritize, as it’s a Muppets Christmas production.
The Twilight Soirée inside The Tip Top Club at The Hollywood Tower Hotel is also coming back this year.
Regarding new options, we had Holiday Fiesta en la Calle last year, but what we didn’t have were José Carioca and Panchito from The Three Caballeros.
Photo: Disney
You’ll also find some new photo ops this year like Phineas & Ferb.
Please remember that these photos are free since Disney PhotoPass comes with your Jollywood Nights admission ticket.
You can read about all the photo ops and character information here.
Do You Remember?
Photo: Disney
I probably don’t need to tell you that yesterday was the 21st of September…unless you’re like me and rarely know what day it is.
Anyway, that date holds special significance due to a beloved Earth, Wind, & Fire song. It’s this one:
September is legitimately one of my favorite songs ever, which apparently isn’t a unique trait among Disney fans.
Inside Cosmic Rewind
I say this with confidence based on what just happened at EPCOT yesterday.
In celebration of the big day, Disney officials did something clever. Frankly, it was probably a better idea than even they realized.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
For one day only, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind had only a single song on its soundtrack.
Rather than hearing one of the other five carefully chosen songs from the Cosmic Rewind soundtrack, fans listened to September.
For whatever reason, everyone at Walt Disney World stopped what they were doing and headed to EPCOT for the day.
I’m not even joking. MickeyBlog tracked this when we noticed that EPCOT Park Passes had sold out for the day.
Photo: Walt Disney Company
Soon afterward, annual passholder reservations sold out, too.
Even as the EPCOT evangelist at MickeyBlog, I can tell you that this is rare and borderline unprecedented in September.
Photo: Disney
The odd part is that Cosmic Rewind doesn’t offer a standby queue yet. Your only options are booking a virtual queue or buying Lightning Lane.
Needless to say, park guests did both, leading to some wild crowd patterns at EPCOT…and a bit of downtime.
Milled & Mulled spread at EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival
To a larger point, the whole thing felt like a holiday in September, and it had the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival to boot.
Factors like this explain why EPCOT is soaring in attendance and Food & Wine is more popular than ever.
PS: I listened to September four times while writing this section of MickeyBlog News. Seriously.
Disney Miscellany Part I
(Matt Stroshane, Photographer)
We’ve got several other stories to cover this week, but let’s start with the most pressing one.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is down to its last three dates.
Photo: Disney
At some point this week, every night of the event will be a total sellout.
So, if you have any interest in going this year, you MUST speak with a MickeyTravels agent asap.
Photo: Disney PArks Blog
Otherwise, you’re gonna be stuck on the outside looking in at what I consider Disney’s best after-hours event.
Remember that MickeyTravels agents offer their services free of charge to you. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Photo: Disney
In other Magic Kingdom news, Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café is sporting a new menu. We checked it out for you.
Also, The Plaza has finished its outdoor construction, and it’s quite the glow-up.
At EPCOT, Mariachi Cobre has gotten an assist from a fitting ally.
Miguel from Coco is playing with the band as part of Hispanic and Latin American Culture Month.
In Disney World hotel news, the Surfboard Bay Pool at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort will close for a lengthy refurbishment.
Fortunately, you have more than a year to plan for this, as the overhaul doesn’t begin until January 2026.
Surfboard Bay Pool
Disney’s giving fans an early heads up so that you can better plan your 2026 vacations. Besides, the hotel has other pools.
Disney Miscellany Part II
Photo: Disney
We’ve got a few other stories to cover beyond the parks this week.
First, the Disney Treasure is heading to its eventual port of call.
Photo: Disney Parks Blog
The newest vessel in Disney Cruise Line’s fleet has left Germany as a crowd of people watched in admiration.
On December 21st, 2024, the Treasure will embark on its maiden voyage, but first, it needs to get to Port Canaveral, Florida.
At Disney Springs, Wine Bar George just won another award. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.
If you’re into wine, this place is like the mothership calling you home.
Photo: Forbes
In more general news, United Airlines has announced that free in-flight Wi-Fi will become a permanent offering thanks to SpaceX.
Finally, the most heartwarming story of the week is that Disney and the wonderful people at the Make-A-Wish Foundation have achieved another milestone.
Photo: Disney
No matter what else is happening in the world, Disney x Make-A-Wish remains the best collaboration ever.
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Feature Photo: Disney
