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Should I Rent a Car on my Disney Vacation?

One question we hear a lot from clients, friends and family is “Should I rent a car for my Disney vacation?” This question sparks heated debate among faithful Disney parks fans all over the world. Some people insist no car rental is necessary at Disney due to all the free Disney transportation (as long as you stay on Disney property). Others wouldn’t dream of visiting Disney World without renting a car. So what is the right answer for you?

As with most things about the “perfect” Disney vacation, the answer depends on what’s important to YOU. A Disney World vacation IS a vacation where you can rely on free or economical transportation for most everything–having a car on your Disney vacation is NOT a requirement.

Where are you Staying?

One of the quickest resolutions to the “Should I rent a car for my Disney vacation?” question is if you are staying on Disney property or not. If you are not staying on Disney property, it is a lot more likely that you might want to rent a car.

Staying Off Disney Property

While many of the hotels and resorts do offer shuttle service to Disney parks, you may prefer to travel on your own schedule and have the freedom to leave the parks and return to your resort on your timeline, not theirs. Most of the off-site properties don’t offer unlimited or frequent transportation to and from Disney. Usually, there are a few timeslots in the morning, some in the afternoon and some in the evening. But it varies a lot, depending on the resort you are staying at. If you’d prefer NOT to rent a car, make sure you check with your resort before your trip about what options they offer to get you to the parks–or what they don’t offer, as the case may be.

If you are staying at an Air BnB or a bit farther from Disney, you will need to find your own way to the Disney parks. Orlando has a thriving Lyft/Uber community, and using Lyft or Uber as your vacation transportation is VERY doable for your Disney vacation–but it can get pretty pricey, especially if you are more than a few miles outside of Disney.

Generally, I recommend guests staying off Disney property rent a car for the convenience factor. However, it is possible to stay off property and NOT rent a car. Note: Many non-Disney owned hotels charge for parking. Make sure you know if you’ll need to pay for parking and how much. Also, Disney will charge you to park your rental car at the theme parks if you are not an Annual Passholder or DVC Member. Be sure to take that extra cost into consideration because $25 per day adds up super fast, and can really inflate the cost to rent a of renting a car.

Staying on Disney Property

One of the benefits of staying at a Walt Disney World resort is that Disney provides transportation from your resort to each of the four theme parks and Disney Springs absolutely free. If you are staying on Disney property, a strong case can be made that you don’t NEED a car for your Disney vacation.

Magical Express

If have done any research for your Disney vacation, you may have heard about Magical Express. Magical Express was a terrific service that Disney used to offer to resort guests that provide free bus transport from Orlando International Airport directly to your resort. It was very popular with many guests over the years, but Disney ended the service in 2022.

Mears Transportation

Mears Transportation is the company that used to provide the Magical Express service on behalf of Disney. They still offer transportation via bus from the Orlando airport to your Disney resort–it’s just not called “Magical Express” any more and it’s no longer free. The service is now called Mears Connect, and it serves multiple resorts, not just Disney. Prices are currently $13 per child and $16 per adult. Advance reservations are required, but are easy to make from your phone or computer. Learn more or make reservations at Mears Transportation.

Mears Connect Disney Transportation — Photo: Mears Transportation

Keep in mind that the prices above are per person and are for one way trips. They are also subject to change without notice. Those with larger groups may find it more economical to take an Uber or Lyft from the airport to their resort. We’ve done this a few times, and the total cost with tip has been between $30 and $45, depending on traffic and the tip.

Is Your Trip All About Disney or Will You Visit Other Tourist Destinations?

Another important consideration for those asking the “Should I rent a car for my Disney vacation?” question is whether their vacation is exclusively all about Disney. If your family or group wants to also visit Universal Studios or LegoLand; if they want to go visit the outlet malls; if they want to go see the mermaids at Weeki Wachee State Park; you are much more likely to need a rental car for your vacation. That is not to say you cannot do all of these things if you DON’T have a car–you absolutely can do it if you are determined. But visiting multiple unrelated destinations is much easier if you have your own car.

Weeki Wachee Mermaids — Photo: Weeki Wachee Calendar

Combining Disney and Universal Studios

Surprisingly, it is pretty easy to visit both Disney World and Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure in the same vacation without renting a car. At Universal, both parks are within walking distance of each other and they are also in walking distance or a short water taxi ride from many of the Universal resorts.

OrlandoVacation_UniversalStudiosIslandoOfAdventure

Both Disney and Universal offer shuttle service from one resort to the other. I recommend you plan in advance if you want to use this, and make your reservations early. Prices range from $35-$50 per person, depending on whether you are purchasing them in a package with Universal park tickets (or Disney park tickets if you are starting at Universal.)

Much like hotel shuttles, the shuttles between Universal and Disney usually run on a specific time schedule. Depending on the number of guests with reservations, your shuttle might be a small van or it could be a full size coach bus. The trip between the two resorts takes about thirty minutes–more if multiple pickups or drop-offs are involved. Make sure you allow for extra time when you are planning for this.

If you don’t want to take advantage of the Disney or Universal shuttles, Uber or Lyft is also a great option. We’ve never had to wait more than about 15 minutes for an Uber or Lyft on Disney property. Note: We have waited longer than 15 minutes at both the airport and Disney Springs. Traffic and demand have a BIG impact on wait times in both apps.

So, do you need a rental car if you are staying at Disney but also want to visit Universal? No, you don’t. But having a rental car does make it a lot easier and more convenient, that’s for sure. You can travel on your own schedule, and you don’t have to stop at other resorts to pick up other travelers.

Shopping

What if you like to go shopping on your vacation? Should you get a rental car for your Disney vacation if you like to shop? Not necessarily.

If you are planning to shop for groceries, grocery delivery is a great option and has become very common on Disney property. If you want to visit the Disney Character Warehouse or the outlet malls, you CAN use Uber, Lyft or a taxi service. However, the more running around you want to do, the more convenient it is to have your own car.

We almost always do a grocery run at the start of our trips, stocking our room with breakfast and snack items, wine and water. We’ve also found the Publix near Disney property to have some really great Disney souvenirs at prices much more affordable than at Disney World. It’s not the Disney branded stuff, of course, but especially if you are buying for little kids, it’s good stuff at decent pricing.

Convenience versus Cost

For many of us, the choice to rent a car or not comes down to the question of convenience versus cost. When Disney offered Magical Express transportation from the airport for free, many guests chose to skip the rental car and take advantage of the free Disney transportation on property. From a cost savings perspective, it’s hard to beat the free Disney transportation available for Disney resort guests.

Now that transportation from the airport is no longer free, the decision of whether to rent a car has gotten a little murkier for some folks.

Modes of Transportation

Some of the fun of a Disney vacation is all the different modes of free Disney transportation available. You can travel by bus, monorail, boat or Skyliner. The most common method of Disney transportation is the bus. You can take a bus from every resort to every theme park and to Disney Springs. Note: You cannot take a bus from one theme park to another, so if you are a park hopper, you’ll want to be hopping between Monorail or Skyliner resorts to minimize your travel times. Alternatively, you need to plan on taking the bus back to your resort and then taking the resort bus to the theme park of your choice.

Disney Skyliner Disney Transportation — Photo: Linda Harkness

Monorail

There are two Monorail runs. The original Monorail track joins together the three deluxe resorts closest to the Magic Kingdom. This track loops in the Ticket and Transport Center at the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, the Magic Kingdom, and Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The second Monorail line runs from the Ticket and Transport Center at the Magic Kingdom to EPCOT. That is a nice long ride, especially if you really want to “ride” the monorail for the sake of riding it.

Boats and Water Taxis

One of my favorite modes of transportation at Walt Disney World are the boats. When you visit the Magic Kingdom via car, you are required to park at the Ticket and Transport Center, and then take the Monorail or the Ferry to the Magic Kingdom. I love the Ferry, and will almost always choose the Ferry if offered the option. The Magic Kingdom resorts all offer a boat or water taxi to the Magic Kingdom. Port Orleans, Saratoga Springs and Old Key West all offer boats that go to Disney Springs. Finally, anyone staying at any of the Boardwalk area resorts has the option to take a boat to Epcot or Hollywood Studios.

Disney Transportation Why rent a car at Disney? — Magic Kingdom Ferry Photo: Brooke Hudson

Skyliner

The Skyliner is a mode of Disney transportation but it’s more than just getting from point A to point B. The Skyliner is also an attraction that many guests love to ride just for the fun of it. The Skyliner offers transportation to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios from Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, and Disney’s Pop Century Resort. Each Skyliner cabin features different colors and characters, and the ride itself is smooth and offers gorgeous views of Disney World property.

The Rental Car Advantage

The biggest advantage to having a rental car at Walt Disney World is the convenience. You can go to whichever theme park you want at whatever time you want to, without waiting for Disney transportation. Having a rental car also makes it much more convenient to visit a second theme park in the afternoon or evening. I’ve found having a car makes it so much easier and faster to take an afternoon break and return to our resort, returning to the park for evening fireworks.

Free parking returns for Disney resort guests rental car — Photo: Brooke Hudson

Freedom and Flexibility

I have learned over my many trips to Disney over the years that I am a control freak, and I really prefer to have a car for my Disney vacations. I like the freedom of being able to grocery shop on our way in from the airport, and the ability to leave property to go shopping or to find someplace to eat for less than $50/person.

Generally, it doesn’t really matter to me that I could get anywhere on Disney property for free and that I don’t NEED a car. I like to have control over where we go and when. I’m not very patient, and I don’t like waiting for the bus (or the boat or the monorail or whatever.)

Should I rent a car for my Disney Vacation? Disney Transportation — Photo: Brooke Hudson

A Possible Disadvantage for Some

However, many people don’t like to worry about driving while they are on vacation. Disney signage is not always the best, and sometimes navigating Disney property can be frustrating. So while freedom to manage your schedule the way you want and the convenience of having a car is significant, you have to weigh that against the INCONVENIENCE of having to navigate Disney roadways and driving while on vacation. If the thought of that stresses you out, renting a car for your Disney vacation is probably not for you!

Lyft/Uber

After Covid, there was a severe shortage of rental cars for a couple of years, and renting a car was extremely cost prohibitive. For our first trip during this time, we originally planned to take an Uber or Lyft from and back to the airport and use Disney transportation for everything else. We ended up using Lyft and Uber for transportation to and from the parks and to Disney Springs as well. By the end of the week, we’d spent about $230 on Lyft and Uber. This was a 7 day trip, and we also took Lyft/Uber to and from the airport. We visited one park per day, but we did take afternoon breaks on a couple of days. Usually, we spend a little more than that on a rental car for the week, so we felt the Lyft/Uber solution was a good fit for us on that trip.

However, now that rental car prices are mostly back to normal and good deals can be found, we usually rent a car for our Disney vacations.

Final Answer: Should I Rent a Car for my Disney Vacation?

The answer that is right for you comes down to what is most important to you and your family. Cost or convenience? If you are trying to keep costs down, I recommend you don’t rent a car. Take advantage of Disney’s free transportation. Allow extra time each day in case you have to wait a bit for the bus. If you are going to a theme park or Disney Springs for a meal reservation, it’s good to allow yourselves at least an hour when using Disney transportation.

If convenience is more important than cost, I really love the convenience of having a car. Yes, it costs more money, but it saves TIME–which depending on your perspective, can be just as valuable as money.

What’s YOUR final answer? Will you choose to rent a car on your next Disney vacation or will you skip the rental and rely on Disney transportation to get around?

Brooke Hudson Disney Travel Agent — Ready to Plan Your Next Disney Vacation? I’m ready to help! Email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com

Free Parking Returns for Disney Resort Guests!

I have more good news to share today! Walt Disney World has announced that they are removing the nightly parking fees at Walt Disney World Resorts for overnight guests. This is the first bit of FINANCIAL good news I’ve been able to share for a while about our beloved Walt Disney World. Could this be an early result of Bob Iger’s return? I don’t know, but it definitely makes me happy!

Free Parking Returns for Disney Resort Guests Immediately!

If you don’t drive at Walt Disney World, you may not have felt this pain. Starting in 2018, Disney resort guests were charged between $15 and $25 per night per vehicle to park at their resort. Only Disney Vacation Club guests were exempt from these charges. As I’m sure you can imagine, these costs added up quickly for guests. If you drove to Walt Disney World or chose to rent a vehicle for your Florida vacation, you felt this pain.

These fees have been an enormous source of guest frustration over the last several years. Parking fees have also served as a STRONG example in media conversations about Disney “nickel and diming” guests on top of ever increasing park ticket prices.

Walt Disney World Resort guests already get free parking at the theme parks–this has not changed. However, making the decision whether to rent a car or whether to fly or drive is a little easier when you don’t have to add in the cost of parking at your resort every night!

Is this a PR Move?

So of course, a big question is WHY is free parking returning for Disney resort guests? Is it just a big public relations move? Absolutely!! It is for SURE an effort to improve the public perception of the Walt Disney Company. Disney’s reputation, especially with the fanbase has taken a lot of hits in the past couple of years. Free parking is a pretty minor move, but it will get some press. It will also make a lot of Disney fans and travelers happy. Or at least, happier.

Free parking returns for Disney resort guests — Photo: Brooke Hudson

What is giving this news more mileage for me personally is that Disney is sacrificing revenue. We haven’t seen Disney do this in a long time. For the last I don’t even KNOW how many years, we have seen a trend of Disney making an awful lot of decisions that are VERY bottom line focused. We have seen LOTS of decisions that seem to put guest experience and guest relations at a much lower premium than the company used to value.

The reality is, a Walt Disney World has always been expensive. But the value over the years has decreased. It is still VERY valuable, and hour for hour, you still get a TON of value from a Walt Disney World vacation. But for those of us that have been visiting Walt Disney World for many years, it’s challenging to see the guest experience degrade somewhat while the pricing of everything has increased so significantly.

Final Thoughts

I don’t know if free parking returning for resort guests is a sign of things to come or just a token PR gesture — but it IS meaningful. It HAS impact on Disney travelers, especially those that drive to Walt Disney World. And it will, very slightly, reduce how much money Disney will make from the resorts each day. Or maybe it won’t. Because if the guest doesn’t have to spend $25 to park his car, maybe he will spend it on a T-shirt instead.

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

La Creperie de Paris: Another Reason to Visit France

La Creperie de Paris is one of the newest additions to EPCOT’s table service restaurant offerings. Located in the “new” section of EPCOT’s France pavilion, La Creperie de Paris offers guests both a quick service option and a table service option.

La Creperie de Paris EPCOT — La Creperie de Paris (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

Counter Service

Crepes A Emporter by La Creperie de Paris is a quick service window connected to La Creperie de Paris. At this quick service window, you’ll be able to enjoy both savory galettes and sweet crepes, as well as soft serve ice cream and ciders and wines.

The line for the quick service Crepes A Emporter at La Creperie de Paris (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

We observed fairly long lines for this quick service window every time we were in the vicinity. It’s definitely a tasty and popular option, and worth the visit to this “back of France” area. The new Ratatouille attraction is located back in this area of the France pavilion, and that is the main reason most guests flock to this area. (Note: There are also new bathrooms back in this area–I like knowing where all the non-restaurant bathrooms are located!).

There is not much seating anywhere in this area, and crepes are not the easiest thing to eat while standing; however, if you are wanting something a little different to eat or for dessert, the offerings here are quite tasty.

My nephew Vinnie absolutely LOVED the dessert crepes here, and visited this quick service window several times during our October trip.

Quick Service Menu: Crepes A Emporter at La Creperie de Paris

Galettes (Savory Crepes)

Cream of Brie Cheese Galette $9.95

Ratatouille Galette (Tomatoes, Zucchini and Eggplant) $8.95

Bechamel, Cheese & Ham Galette $10.95

Crepes (Sweet Crepes)

Butter & Sugar Crepe $5.95

Housemade Hazelnut & Chocolate Spread Crepe $7.95

Red Berries Crepe $7.50

Vanilla or Chocolate Ice Cream Crepe $6.95

Glaces (Ice Cream)

Soft-serve Ice Cream in a Waffle Cone

Cidres (Hard Ciders)

Cidre Brut (Dry) $5.95

Cidre Doux (Sweet) $5.95

Petillants (Sparklings)

Champagne Malard Excellence Brut $15.50

Mimosa Sparkling Wine & Orange Juice $12.00

Kronenbourg 1664 French Beer $9.00

Vins (Wines)

Rose, Cotes de Provence $14.00

Chardonnay, Chefs Selection G. Duboeuf $7.50

Merlot, Chefs Selection G. Duboeuf $7.50

Cabernet Sauvignon $8.00

Boisson (Soft Drinks)

Assorted Beverages (Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, Fanta, Iced Tea, Lemonade $4.75

Evian Natural Spring Water $3.50

Perrier Sparkling Mineral Water $4.75

Our Thoughts

Overall, we found this quick service location to be good option. Every crepe we tried was tasty, and we thought it was positive that there were a couple vegetarian options here.

Our favorite crepe overall was definitely the Hazelnut & Chocolate Spread Crepe. This crepe was so tasty! It’s very rich, though, so you’ll want to make sure you have some water or an alternative beverage. (If you can get a scoop of vanilla ice cream for your crepe, that helps a LOT with the richness AND adds a lovely cold element on a hot day. We discovered that wonderful combination at the table service restaurant, though.)

EPCOT France Pavilion New Addition — Photo: Brooke Hudson

I am not kidding when I tell you there really isn’t anywhere in this area to sit and enjoy your crepe. That is the only real negative I have about this quick service location. Much of the area back here is absorbed by the Ratatouille queue; there are a few planters with ledges where people frequently sit…but it’s not nearly enough room for everyone waiting in line at any given time. There are a few tables on one side, and a few high top tables with no seating where you can at least set your food and drink down, but you can’t sit. There is not a lot of shade in this area, either, so on a hot day, you would probably not want to stand around in the sun to enjoy your crepe and your drink. But if you can stake out a shady spot and some seating, this quick service location is a definite winner for us.

Table Service: La Creperie de Paris

I much prefer eating at table service restaurants at Disney to quick service, I must confess. I like knowing we will be able to sit down, in air conditioning, and be able to get a decent rest while we enjoy our meal. After trying out the quick service window for Crepes A Emporter at La Creperie de Paris during our October family trip, I knew I wanted to check out the table service option for our spring Flower & Garden trip.

I made all our dining reservations at the same time, 60 days out from our trip. Fortunately, I was able to get every reservation I wanted with little difficulty. For the purposes of this review, I have gone online several times to check availability, and while I can rarely find same day reservations, I can usually find something a few days out. Weekdays are easier than weekends, of course, but I suspect with a little planning ahead, you should be able to secure a reservation for La Creperie de Paris.

Decor

This restaurant has a pretty modern feel to it. It’s all beiges and whites, and fairly clean and simple feeling. I think they were going for a French Bistro feel here, and my mom, who has been to several French Bistros in her travels, says this effort is successful. We got a table right in the windows, so that was fun for us. Avid people watchers, we loved the opportunity to people watch both inside and outside the restaurant.

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Bonus: One thing we really liked at La Creperie de Paris was that we got real menus! Disney is still using the online menus at most table service restaurants where you scan a QR code with your phone and look at the menu on your phone. I miss real menus! La Creperie de Paris uses their paper menus as your placemat, and I like it!

Service

Service was very good here. We both felt the absence of the international program for EPCOT though. We’ve always loved that the EPCOT restaurants were primarily staffed with team members from the country the restaurant was themed to. That program was paused when Walt Disney World closed in 2020 due to Covid, and it has restarted only very recently. As a result, there are very few international cast members back in EPCOT at this time. While each of the service team members we met was terrific, I missed being able to talk to and learn from the international cast members in the restaurants.

The service was a bit TOO good, in fact. We felt a little rushed. We hadn’t finished our salads when our savory crepes arrived, and our dessert crepes arrived before we had finished our savory crepes. However, on the positive side, my water glass was pretty constantly refilled — It was a hot day and I was very thirsty.

We were celebrating my mom’s birthday, and our server brought out some VERY tasty french vanilla ice cream for her birthday. Mom suggested we add the ice cream to our hazelnut chocolate dessert crepes and WOW was that amazing! We both decided this was our favorite way to enjoy the hazelnut chocolate crepes by far!

Table Service Menu: La Creperie de Paris

Appetizer or Side Dish

Soupe du Jour (Soup of the Day) $6.75

Salad Maison (Mixed greens, tomatoes, onions, and vinegarette) $6.75

Prix Fixe Menu * (My recommendation for this restaurant)

Choice of Soup of the Day or Salade Maison; choice of one Galette with a glass of Hard Cider, Soda or Juice; Choice of one Dessert Crepe $34.95

Galettes (Buckwheat Savory Crepes)

Classique (Ham, Egg, Swiss Cheese) $16.95

Poulet (Chicken, Bechamel Cheese Sauce, Mushrooms) $16.95

Chevre (Goat Cheese, Spinach, Walnuts) $16.95

Saumon (Smoked Salmon, Creme Fraiche, Chives, Lemon) $16.95

Ratatouille (Tomato, Zucchini, Eggplant) $16.95

Savoyarde (Raclette Cheese, Carmelized Onions, Bacon, Imported Bayonne Home $16.95

Menu Enfant Prix Fixe Menu (Kids’ Prix Fixe Menu)

Choice of one Galette (Brie Cheese, Ratatouille, or Ham & Cheese) and choice of one Crepe (Sugar, Red Berries or Hazelnut Chocolate Spread) $14.00

Crepes (Dessert)

Gourmande (Hazelnut Chocolate Spread, Whipped Cream) $9.95

Banane (Banana, Caramel Beurre Sale) $9.95

Melba (Peach, Red Berries Sauce, Almonds) $9.95

Poire (Pear, Chocolate Ganache, Whipped Cream) $9.95

Pomme (Carmelized Apples, Caramel Beurre Sale) $9.95

Add-On’s (Each: Whipped Cream, Ice Cream, Sauce) $2.95

Add a Shot to Any Crepe (Grand Marnier, Rhum or Calvados) $7.00

Cidres (French Hard Ciders)

Brut $29.00 (Bottle) $5.95 (Glass)

Demi Sec $29.00 (Bottle) $5.95 (Glass)

Doux $29.00 (Bottle) $5.95 (Glass)

Rose $40.00 (Bottle) $7.50 (Glass)

Vins (French Wines)

Chardonnay $36.95 (Bottle) $7.95 (Glass)

Carbernet Sauvignon $36.95 (Bottle) $7.95 (Glass)

Merlot $36.95 (Bottle) $7.95 (Glass)

Rose de Provence $69.50 (Bottle) $14.95 (Glass)

Divers (Miscellaneous)

Biere Kronenbourg (Beer) $9.50

Champagne Malard $17.55

Mimosa $12.00

French Martini $15.75

Sodas, Jus (Imported Soft Drinks)

Evian $7.50

Perrier $8.50

Jus de Pomme (Apple Juice) $5.00

Limonade (French Sparkling Limonade) $5.75

Orangina (French Orange Soda) $6.25

Hot Beverages

Espresso $4.75

Cappuccino $5.25

The (Tea) $4.50

Cafe (Coffee) $4.25

Our Thoughts

We liked our La Creperie de Paris lunch very much. I highly recommend the Prix Fixe Menu, which includes soup or salad, a savory buckwheat galette, a dessert crepe and a glass of hard cider, soda or juice for $34.95. Both of us felt this was a good value, especially for a Disney table service restaurant. Definitely choose the cider to maximize your investment. Note: There is also kids Prix Fixe Menu for $14.00 that includes a savory galette and a dessert crepe.

At this time, La Creperie de Paris does not accept any discounts. No DVC discount, no passholder discounts, etc. This is pretty common for newer restaurants when they first open. Most likely this table service restaurant will offer discounts at some point in the future, but while it is still new and very popular, discounts are unlikely to materialize.

Overall, we both our enjoyed our meals. The salads were fresh and light, and the perfect size for an appetizer. The weak link for both of us were the savory buckwheat galettes. They were good, don’t get me wrong, but they were not great. We both felt the flavor of the buckwheat crepe itself was a bit boring. Mom and I also each felt our galettes were too dry and needed more sauce.

We enjoyed the environment, it was relaxing and comfortable. The host seated us almost immediately after we checked in, and we had a great seat in the front windows. Each of us enjoyed our hard ciders; mom had the Brut, which is dry and really liked it. I tried the Doux, which was sweeter. I would definitely order this again. The highlight of the meal for both of us was the dessert crepes. We each had the Hazelnut Chocolate Spread dessert crepes, and we’d eaten about a third of our crepes when the server brought my mom’s “birthday” ice cream. We both agreed that while the crepes was VERY good with whipped cream, the ice cream took it to a whole other level. It became OUTSTANDING.

La Creperie de Paris Dessert Crepe (Photo: Linda Harkness)

La Creperie de Paris Birthday Ice Cream — Mom and her dessert crepe with her “Birthday” ice cream!

I would definitely recommend you check out this table service restaurant. Our meal was filling but not too heavy, and we felt recharged and ready to head back out into the 90+ degree heat of the afternoon, very satisfied with our meal.

Have you tried La Creperie de Paris or Crepes A Emporter by La Creperie de Paris for yourself yet? If so, what did you think? Please comment below, I’d love to read your thoughts!

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

Character Greetings Returning to Disney!

Great news, Disney fans! At long last, traditional character greetings are returning to Disney parks in the U.S.. Character greetings are also returning to Disney cruise ships and the Aulani Resort in Hawaii.

Animal Kingdom UP character Greeting — Russell has a little crush on Linda! Brooke and Linda with Russell and Dug from UP! Photo: Disney Photo Pass

For many Disney guests, character greetings have long been a highlight of their Disney vacations. Family vacation photo albums are full of pictures of children of all ages getting autographs and hugs from their favorite characters. Since Disney parks opened in the United States post pandemic closure, character greetings have been missing from the Disney vacation experience.

Socially Distanced Characters

To their credit, Disney tried to give guests opportunity to see their favorite characters, and to take photos with the characters in the background. Disney introduced Character cavalcades—mini parades in each park featuring favorite characters on floats, in cars, or on boats. The common denominator for all these character cavalcades was “social distancing”. You could see the characters, you could even take photos of them, or of yourself with the character in the background, but you couldn’t get up close to the characters.

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In addition to the character cavalcades, certain characters would pop up in various areas around the parks. Always in areas that guests couldn’t physically get to, but in locations where they could interact with guests and pose for photos with guests–at a distance.

For example, during our October family vacation, we took pictures of the kids with Buzz Lightyear and some Stormtroopers.

Socially Distanced Buzz Lightyear Photo: Brooke Hudson

Stormtrooper Character Sighting — Socially Distanced Stormtroopers Photo: Brooke Hudson

Anna and Elsa also popped up in Norway in Epcot as well, chatting with guests and posing for pictures. Guests were not able to get close enough for autographs, but they at least got to have some sort of “one on one” interactions.

Elsa Character Sighting — Socially Distanced Elsa Photo: Brooke Hudson

Mary Poppins often appeared in the UK from a distance. You could find Belle in France, and Snow White in Germany.

Mary Poppins Character Sightin — Linda with a socially distanced Mary Poppins Photo: Brooke Hudson

Character Greetings Returning!

Beginning April 18, traditional character greetings and character meals are returning to Disney parks in the U.S. Character greetings are also returning to Disney cruise ships and to Disney’s Aulani resort in Hawaii.

I expect this will be a gentle rollout–probably a few character greetings will return at first, followed by more over time. I think by mid-Summer, we should be able to count on all the regular character greetings and character meals to be back to their pre-pandemic levels.

Disney released this video in celebration of character greetings returning to Disney parks.

Which Character are You Most Excited to See?

My mom and I are visiting in May for our annual mother/daughter Flower & Garden Festival trip to celebrate Mother’s Day and our May/June birthdays. We will definitely be checking out what character greetings are available by then. I’ll be sure to report back with what (and who!) we find.

One of my favorite character greetings is this moment with Minnie and Mickey Mouse at Animal Kingdom. When I went to hug Mickey, I somehow dislodged his belt, and both characters made a BIG deal out of it. Mom and I laughed so hard we cried! I’m excited the character greetings are returning to Disney parks so that guests have their own special moments like this one.

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Which character do you want to hug first?

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

runDisney Races are BACK at WDW!

Great news today, everyone. runDisney races are back at Walt Disney World. Even more exciting? runDisney in-park races are starting THIS YEAR!

While many runDisney fans have been speculating that an announcement from runDisney would like come soon, most of us assumed that runDisney races would be back NEXT YEAR. Today’s announcement is exciting news for runDisney fans everywhere and indicates a more accelerated return to normalcy for runDisney races at Walt Disney World.

runDisney Races are back in 2021

A big surprise for many runDisney fans, the first race to return to Walt Disney World is the 2021 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend. The Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend is November 4 – 7, 2021.

This year’s theme is Wickedly Delicious, focusing on popular Disney villains. The weekend will feature a 5K, a 10K, and a half marathon. In addition, the weekend will also offer a Disney Two Course Challenge for those participants that want the challenge of completing both the 10K and the half marathon. I’m a big fan of the 10K/Half Marathon challenges, and am very excited to see this challenge as a part of the Wine & Dine weekend.

runDisney Wine and Dine — Photo: runDisney

The weekend will wrap up with a Post Race Party for participants and their families at EPCOT. The party will feature exclusive after hours access to the park and the International Food and Wine Festival.

If you’re interested in planning a trip to Disney for the runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, I recommend taking action QUICKLY. Email me at brooke@disneycastledreaming.com and I’d be happy to put together a no obligation quote for you.

Disney’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend

Registration opens for the general public on July 13, 2021 at 10 am EST.

Club runDisney Gold and Platinum registration opens July 6, 2021 at 10 am EST.

While we haven’t received confirmation yet, we expect that DVC members and Annual Passholders will also have access for early registration. We will update with a specific date and time as soon as we have it.

Pricing

5K $95

10K $135

Half Marathon $215

Two Course Challenge $360

Post Race Party $89

*Note: These are early registration prices. Prices will increase by $10 on August 10, 2021.

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

Many runDisney fans had high hopes that in park races would be returning to Walt Disney World for January 2022’s Marathon Weekend. I’m so happy to report that Walt Disney World’s Marathon Weekend has been officially confirmed for January 5 – 9, 2022.

Fans can expect Marathon Weekend to focus on the 50th Anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort. I’m hopeful there will be lots of special entertainment and merchandise celebrating the big 50th!

Marathon Weekend will include a 5K, a 10K, a half marathon, and a full marathon. Also back is the Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, for those participants that want to do the half marathon AND the full marathon (and MUST be Goofy to do so!). And for the REALLY committed (or maybe they need to be committed? Just kidding!) the Dopey Challenge is back. The Dopey Challenge includes the 5K, the 10K, the half marathon AND the full marathon.

runDisney virtual races Goofy Challenge — runDisney Goofy Challenge

We are already seeing a TON of reservations for 2022–so many Disney fans have been eagerly awaiting Disney World’s return to normal. With runDisney races back, we expect Marathon Weekend reservations to pour in. If you’d like a no obligation quote for your runDisney Marathon Weekend, please reach out to brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.

Registration

Registration opens for the general public on July 27, 2021 at 10 am EST.

Club runDisney Gold and Platinum registration opens July 20, 2021 at 10 am EST.

Pricing

5K $95

10K $135

Half Marathon $195

Marathon $195

Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge $390

Dopey Challenge $600

Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend 2022

It’s no surprise that the race weekend built for Disney princesses from all over the world will return once again to Walt Disney World now that runDisney races are BACK live in the parks. A great entry point for beginner runDisney participants, Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend is scheduled for February 24 – 27, 2021.

New for 2022: the first morning will feature Disney Princess Sunrise Yoga in front of Cinderella Castle, before the theme park opens. How fun does THAT sound?

The theme for the 2022 Princess Half Marathon Weekend will be courage and kindness. Men are welcome to participate, but the Princess Half Marathon Weekend focuses more fully on women, girls and the female experience. The Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend will feature a 5k, a 10k, and a half marathon. The Weekend also features the Disney Fairy Tale Challenge (my favorite!) for those participants that want to do both the 10K and the half marathon.

runDisney Princess Half Finish Line — runDisney Princess Half Marathon Finish Line

It’s a great opportunity for a girls’ weekend, a sisters weekend, a mom/daughter weekend. If you’d like help planning your Disney Half Marathon weekend, please email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.

Registration

Registration opens for the general public on August 24, 2021 at 10 am EST.

Club runDisney Gold and Platinum registration opens August 17, 2021 at 10 am EST.

Pricing

Sunrise Yoga $95

5K $95

Enchanted 10K $135

Half Marathon $210

Disney Fairy Tale Challenge $355

Surprise! runDisney has a NEW Race in the Family

All the big runDisney announcements from this morning included a new race in the lineup. runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend is scheduled for March 31 – April 3, 2022. Disney has stated that each race season, the fourth weekend will be the Springtime Surprise Weekend. Each year, the race themes and distances will be different.

So essentially, this weekend is replacing the Star Wars race weekend? Perhaps they are planning to rotate several different themes through this particular race weekend, depending on what film or theme park properties they want to promote in a particular year? I guess we will find out.

They tell us that this weekend will be “as much about the smiles as it is about the miles” and beginner racers and veteran racers alike will be welcome.

We have no other information about this event at this time. Hmmm. Very mysterious. Registration will like open in the fall, but we have no dates, distances, prices or themes yet.

Health and Safety

With runDisney races back in our lives, an obvious first question for many is, “What will the health and safety protocols be?”

The answer to this question is evolving. Disney is saying that they will defer to the information they receive from scientists, vendors and sponsors, and will make decisions in the best interest of their guests, vendors, park guests, and cast members as each race weekend approaches.

It is possible that face coverings MAY be required or that other health and safety protocol measures may be in place at race time.

As more information becomes available for each race weekend, I will share it with you.

Virtual Races are Sticking Around

In the not-so-surprising news category, Disney has announced that Virtual Races are NOT going away. Racers from all over the world will still be able to participate in runDisney races from wherever they are, even if they can’t come to the parks to join in the fun.

The in-person runDisney races generate millions of dollars in revenue for Disney, and they have learned from the Covid runDisney experience that they can make even MORE money by opening the races up to a virtual audience. I fully expect Disney to continue offering the virtual races, and to perhaps even expand their virtual offerings as time goes on. They can operate the virtual races with much less overhead and get a lot of fan participation. Races like these build additional fan loyalty, and of course, can lead to additional in park race participation, which adds to to resort revenues overall, in addition to runDisney dollars.

I think the virtual races are brilliant, and since runDisney is not foolish and they want ALL my money, they will continue for every runDisney in park race for the forseeable future.

If you’d like to learn more about Virtual Races (and why I love them), please read runDisney Virtual Races.

Registration Dates for Virtual Races

Disney’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend: July 16, 2021 at 10am EST

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend: July 30, 2021 at 10 am EST

Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend: August 27, 2021 at 10am EST

It’s True. runDisney races are BACK at Walt Disney World.

I’m so excited I can’t hardly stand it. runDisney races are truly exceptional experiences for runners and walkers alike. The race course is filled with themed mile markers, race entertainment, characters and photo opps. Logistically, no one does it better. There are SO MANY portapotties! (Ok, I don’t love the portapotty experience, but when ya gotta go, you are so grateful they are there). I can’t even put into words racing through the theme parks themselves. It’s AMAZING. Fast runners will be in the parks at sunrise (or even before) and that’s a heart stopping, never forget it moment. Slower runners or walkers (like me!) will enter the parks much later and find their paths lined with park goers cheering them on (also a heart stopping never forget it moment.

The adrenaline rush that comes from lining up at the starting line with thousands of other races is amazing for any big race…but for a runDisney race, it’s magnified somehow. The energy just crackles through the air. There are fireworks and Mickey Mouse for goodness sakes! And whenever your energy is flagging, there will be something or someone on the course to boost your spirits and get you going again.

runDisney Marathon Weekend Bling — runDisney It’s All About the Bling photo: Vicki and David Arndt Photography

How about you? Are you excited that runDisney races are back in the Walt Disney World parks? What race or races are YOU registering for?

I may need to partner with a venture capitalist to support my runDisney addiction. {sigh}.

Hope to see you on the runDisney race course!

Happy Dreaming,

Brooke

Disney Parks News 10.28.20

In this week’s Disney Parks News, we have hundreds more cast members getting news of their layoffs. We have Disney’s first shot in the theme parks vs. the State of California battle. We have holiday festival news for EPCOT, including a new Olaf adventure for guests. For these stories and more, please watch this week’s YouTube video below.

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If you missed last week’s Disney Parks News, you can find it here.

For those of you that prefer reading your news to watching a video, please read on.

Disney Parks News

Entertainment Cast Layoffs

Our top Disney Parks News story this week is a sad one. We’ve learned that ALMOST ALL of Disney World “Entertainment” Cast Members around the theme parks have received their notice that they will not be returning to work. These layoffs are part of the 28,000 planned layoffs announced last month.

While most of the shows affected have remained dark since the parks reopened, these layoffs eliminate hopes of any of these shows returning to the parks ANY time in the near future. Our hearts go out to ALL the cast losing their jobs during this time. Many of the cast members have been with Disney for many, many years. This news has been devastating for them.

Disney Parks News Festival of the Lion King Cast and Crew Laid Off — Festival of the Lion King (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

I find these entertainment layoffs particularly heartbreaking because it is the talented performers in the shows and the street actors that really add so much magic to Walt Disney World.

Disney Parks News Citizens of Hollywood Laid Off — Citizens of Hollywood Entertaining the Crowd (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

Which Parks and Shows were Affected?

Here’s a quick list all the entertainment that was hit by this round of layoffs (so far):

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom lost the Citizens of Main Street and the entire cast and crew of Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor.

Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios was the hardest hit, losing the Citizens of Hollywood, the entire cast and crew of Beauty and the Beast–live on stage, the entire cast and crew of Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, the entire cast and crew of the Jedi Training Academy, the Green Army Men, and the entire cast and crew of the Voyage of the Little Mermaid.

Disney Parks News Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Cast and Crew Laid Off — Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

You guys, this makes me want to cry!

Animal Kingdom

Over at Animal Kingdom, we lose the entire casts and crews of two of the most amazing shows on Disney property: Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo the Musical.

Disney Parks News Finding Nemo the Musical Cast and Crew Laid Off — Finding Nemo – The Musical (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

The cast members that drive the Pandora utility suit were also laid off.

EPCOT

EPCOT had already quietly laid off MOST of the World Showcase entertainment in the spring (and this continues to be a troubling decision), however they added some members of Voices of Liberty to the casualty list in this round of layoffs.

Resorts

Finally, the entire cast and crew of the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue over at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground has been laid off. You may also remember from previous news reports that the Grand Floridian Orchestra was also let go a few weeks ago.

Potential Impact of these Layoffs

Again, most of these cast members have been off since the parks closed in April. Nonetheless, I had high hopes that steps were being taken to bring at least some of this entertainment back on line in the coming weeks. These losses are heartbreaking.

Of course, this doesn’t have to mean that these layoffs will be permanent or that these shows will remain dark forever. Nonetheless, it certainly implies that these shows will remain dark for the foreseeable future. And these talented performers are likely to seek work elsewhere. The performers may not even be available when (if???) Disney decides to reintroduce entertainment.

Streetmosphere Actors in Permanent Danger?

I’m most worried about the Streetmosphere actors. The Green Army Men, the Citizens of Main Street and the Citizens of Hollywood. These actors add SO much to the guest experience. Unfortunately, I can envision Disney just never bringing them back at all. This would be a HUGE loss to all of us.

I really get the feeling that the current management structure of the Parks undervalues the Entertainment element of the Disney Parks experience. But really, it is the talent of the entertainers that elevates the Disney Parks above other theme parks.

Disney Parks News Streetmosphere Actors Laid Off — Citizens of Hollywood in Action (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

The Streetmosphere actors, interacting with guests in character; putting on quick little shows in the street; entertaining guests as they wait in line, or stand in the hot sun? These actors are an INTEGRAL part of the Disney magic.

The wonderful shows that offer guests not just high quality entertainment, but usually magical uplifting messaging as well? Again, part of what makes Disney theme parks stand out.

I understand that with COVID-19 restrictions, the stage shows and Streetmosphere interactions cannot happen right now. But I continue to hope that Disney will work vigorously to return these things to us when things begin to return to normalcy.

Disney Parks News Streetmosphere Actors layoffs — My Nephew Vinny and a Green Army Man (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

On our Disney trips, at the end of every day, we talk about the day and document the highlights. I cannot tell you how many times those highlight moments have been because of a Disney Streetmosphere player or scene.

What Message are Fans Sending Disney?

It is the entertainment that makes Disney tickets worth their price. I sincerely hope that Disney doesn’t get the wrong message from guests continuing to visit the parks right now, even though the offerings are a fraction of what they normally are. Fans are eager to return to Disney, yes. It’s been a really tough year for so many of us, and we are anxious to escape our current reality, and a trip to Disney fulfills that for many.

However, while we may be satisfied with Disney offering “partial” value right now, given the circumstances, I have a hard time believing that even Disney’s most die hard fan base (myself included) will continue to accept high ticket prices for a FRACTION of the experience. If entertainment does not return, I’m concerned that many guests will choose to visit their local Six Flags, rather than invest in a trip to Disney. I can’t believe I’m saying that, but what guests are willing to accept in the short term given this unique situation is unlikely to be acceptable for the long term. I’m really curious as to what you all think. Please let me know in the comments below.

Disney vs. California: Shot Fired?

Last week, we talked about California’s release of their guidelines for large theme parks to reopen in their state. We also discussed that these new guidelines will make it virtually impossible for Disneyland and California Adventure to reopen this year. In fact, it is likely to be next SUMMER before the strict guidelines can be met, and Disneyland and California Adventure could reopen.

We said at the time that we didn’t expect Disney to take this situation quietly, and already the first shot is fired!

Disney Parks News Downtown Disney Expansion — Elias & Co. on Buena Vista Street in Disney’s California Adventure (Photo: Disney Parks)

Disney has announced that Downtown Disney is expanding in November to include Buena Vista Street. For those of you not aware, Buena Vista Street is INSIDE Disney’s California Adventure theme park.

But…HOW??

Guests that haven’t visited the California theme parks may not understand how this will work. In Florida, Disney has TONS of land, and all the theme parks and Disney Springs are very spread out. In California, the Disneyland/California Adventure/Downtown Disney footprint is MUCH smaller, with everything really close together.

Downtown Disney is basically an area that is on one side of the two theme parks, filled with restaurants and shops, with access to the main pathway that leads to both theme parks. In the middle, there are entrances for each theme park on this path, across from each other, and totally accessible from Downtown Disney. This makes it really easy for guests to pop out of one theme park, have drinks or a meal in Downtown Disney, and then pop back into the OTHER theme park for evening entertainment, for example.

Disney Parks News Disneyland California Adventure Map — Map: disneyland.com

Downtown Disney has been open for a couple of months, enabling guests (primarily local guests) to shop and dine. In Disney’s first effort to combat the stringent guidelines established by the State of California, Disney is opening Buena Vista Street in California Adventure to Downtown Disney, and calling it an “expansion” of Downtown Disney.

All the shops and restaurants on Buena Vista Street will be open for Downtown Disney guests to visit and enjoy. No theme park ticket will be necessary as the theme park itself is not opening, just the shops and restaurants on Buena Vista Street. I think this is a clever way to get some of the theme park back up and running and some of those cast members back to work without actually opening the theme park.

Buena Vista Street: What is Opening?

The following shops and restaurants are reopening:

- - - - Elias and Co.
      - Julius Katz & Sons
      - Kingswell Camera Shop
      - Trolley Treats
      - Fiddle, Fifer & Practical Café
      - Carthay Circle Lounge
      - Smoke Jumpers Grill

Disney has not shared whether they are making any modifications to Buena Vista Street to accommodate its addition to Downtown Disney, or how the areas outside of Buena Vista Street inside California Adventure will be inaccessible by guests, but I’m confident they will get it all worked out by November 1.

I can’t wait to see what Disney does next!

Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

Disney Parks News Taste of EPCOT International Holiday Festival — EPCOT and the Holidays (Photo: Disney Parks)

The holiday season returns to EPCOT on November 27 this year with the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays (Presented by AdventHealth). This holiday “Taste of EPCOT” Festival will run through December 30. This festival will include global, seasonal cuisine at the Holiday Kitchens, located throughout World Showcase. In addition, there will be three Holiday Kitchens located inside the World ShowPlace Events Pavililon. Some of the seasonal selections you will find include slow roasted turkey from the American Holiday Table, pork schnitzel at the Bavaria Holiday Kitchen and Beef Bourguignon from the Yukon Holiday Kitchen.

Holiday Entertainment

During this EPCOT holiday festival, guests will also be treated to holiday character cavalcades traveling through World Showcase. Anna and Elsa are touring in the Frozen Holiday Promenade, while Mickey and friends are traveling in Mickey & Friends Holiday World Tour. Santa Claus will also be making his first appearance in an EPCOT character cavalcade this year—he’ll be taking a horse drawn tour around World Showcase, calling out holiday wishes to everyone.

Holiday Music

The holiday season will not be without musical celebrations. The America Gardens Theatre will feature holiday carols sung by the Voices of Liberty. In Mexico, the Mariachi Cobre will bring to life Las Posadas, a celebration of Mexican holiday customs through music and dance. In Canada, the JAMMitors will perform on the Mill Stage. (I don’t think the JAMMitors are Canadian, but I’m happy they will be so easy to find!)

Holiday Cookie Stroll

The Holiday Cookie Stroll returns to EPCOT again this year, with a complimentary cookie as a reward for completing the stroll. The options to Stroll include cookies from five different locations throughout the park. You can also pickup an adorable cookie jar to collect all your cookies, available at the Holiday Markets all throughout World Showcase, while Supplies last.

Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition

EPCOT Frozen Ever After — Frozen Ever After (Photo: Disney Parks)

New this year is Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition”. This fun for the whole family adventure is a festive trek around World Showcase. Guests can purchase the expedition map at Mouse Gear, Disney Traders or World Traveler at International Gateway. Once you have the map, you’ll look for hidden Olafs all throughout the World Showcase Pavilions. After you’ve found them all, you’ll receive a “gift worth melting for” (while supplies last).

Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

Sticking with EPCOT news, EPCOT has certainly learned that FESTIVALS are the key to their success. EPCOT is now home to FOUR festivals, and each one’s “Season” is getting longer every year (it appears). In addition, EPCOT seems to have embraced the power (and perhaps profitability) of food and beverage in these festivals, as they all now seem to include the “Taste of” phrase in the festival name. And these Festival names were already fairly long to begin with. But that’s ok, we love them anyway, right?

Disney Parks News EPCOT International Festival of the Arts MURAL — Collaborative Paint by Numbers Mural (Photo: Disney Parks & Resorts)

EPCOT’s first festival after the holidays will be the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, beginning January 8, 2021. While I’m partial to the International Flower and Garden Festival, many fans claim the Festival of the Arts to be EPCOTS best Festival of the year. This year the Fesitval will run through February 22. We’ll enjoy:

- - - More than 15 Food “studios” serving “culinary art” around World Showcase.
    - A ton of diverse work of Disney and other artists on display in marketplaces all around World Showcase Lagoon.
    - Special Photo locations where guests can “step into the scene”.
    - A paint by number mural for EVERYONE to participate in that serves as a collaborative art project.
    - Watch as visiting artists create magic.
    - Favorite EPCOT musical artists Mariachi Cobre and the JAMMitors.
    - Artful scavenger hunt to search for FIGMENT around World Showcase.
    - Festival exclusive merchandise.

Disney Parks News International Festival of the Arts — Watch talented artists in action! (Photo: Disney Parks & Resorts)

I love that with each Festival, the pop up food stands and stores get different names, themed to the event. For the Holiday Festival, the food stations are “Holiday Kitchens” and for the Arts Festival, they are food “Studios”. So fun!

Walt Disney World Entrances Get a Makeover!

We’ve talked before about Disney’s efforts to “spruce” things up around Walt Disney World in time for their big 50^th Anniversary next October. There are lots of construction projects going on, designed to improve the guest experience. Over the spring and summer, Cinderella Castle got a makeover, and the castle is looking really spectacular these days.

Cinderella Castle is Getting a Makeover — Concept Art – Disney Parks

This week, Disney World started work on the entrances that greet guests as they arrive on Disney property. These signs are archways that go over the road, and feature Mickey and Minnie Mouse on either side.

WDW Entrance Sign — Windshield Photo of Walt Disney World Entrance (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

For most Disney fans, these signs are the true beginning of vacation. I have countless “through the windshield” or “out the window” pictures of these signs. These signs have started to fade over the last few years and look a little worn and tired.

At last, these wonderful signs are getting a makeover. This refresh shouldn’t take long, and guests visiting for the holiday season should see the Walt Disney World entrance signs in all their new glory. I’m hoping at least one will be finished or nearly so when we visit mid-November. If so, we’ll be sure to get pictures for you guys! To hold us all over until then, here’s a look at the concept art Disney released for the new look.

Disney Parks news WDW Entrances Get a Makeover — Here’s the AFTER (theoretically, at least!) Concept Art: Disney Parks and Resorts

As someone devoted to Cinderella Castle (some would say unhealthily so…for example, my husband😉) I am disappointed to lose the Castle from the entrance sign. However, I think the new look is really terrific and updated.

That’s it for this week’s Disney Parks News!

What are your thoughts on this week’s stories? Are you excited to see at least one street opening in Disney’s California Adventure theme park? What is YOUR favorite EPCOT Festival? Are you as worried as I am about the entertainment cast member layoffs? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

Happy dreaming!

Brooke

Disney Fall 2021 Vacation Packages Available!

We have breaking news this morning. At last, Disney has opened up reservations for next fall. Disney fall 2021 vacation packages are now available.

As you may already be aware, next October will mark the 50th Anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort. There are many refurbishment projects currently underway, intended to spruce up the parks and resorts for Disney’s big 50th Anniversary. We are all hopeful that by next fall, many of the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 will be lifted, and we’ll all be able to fully enjoy the complete Disney experience.

Spaceship Earth Disney Fall 2021 Vacation Packages Available — Spaceship Earth (Photo: Disney PhotoPass)

Many guests have been waiting for Disney fall 2021 vacation packages to book their 2021 Disney vacations because they want to be on Disney property during the celebration. There are also thousands of Disney fans (my family included!) that had to cancel their 2020 vacation plans due to the impact of Covid-19. These fans have been anxiously waiting for Disney to open up fall 2021 vacation packages.

Disney Fall 2021 Vacation Packages Available Disney's Animal Kingdom Map — Enjoy Animal Kingdom at Night (Photo: Disney Parks)

Disney Fall 2021 Vacation Packages Available NOW

Today is the day. Vacation packages and resort reservations are now available from September 27, 2021 through December 31, 2021. If you are interested in booking your Disney fall 2021 vacation, please contact me at brooke@disneycastledreaming.com for a free, no obligation quote.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge — Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (Photo: Disney Parks)

If you think you might want to visit Disney next fall, I highly encourage you to book sooner rather than later! Disney is going to be applying the full court marketing press, and doing their best to make sure that EVERYONE wants to be at Disney World next fall.

I was at Disney for the 45th Anniversary and it was PACKED! Hotels were at full capacity for most of that fall, and dining reservations were super tough to get. It’s better to lock in your plan early–even if you may need to make changes later.

Work with a Travel Agent

One of the (many!) benefits of working with an authorized Disney vacation planner is that we have direct access into the Disney systems. We often have access to unpublished or limited discounts not available to the general public. If you book your vacation through an authorized Disney vacation planner, and Disney releases a discount later that would save you money, we can go in to their system and apply that discount to your package. (As long as final payment has not been made.)

Animal Kingdom Mickey and Minnie vacation planning top reasons to visit Disney trip planning tips — Linda and Brooke with Mickey and Minnie at Animal Kingdom

Working with a Disney vacation planner does not cost you ANYTHING. We are paid by Disney. But by working with me, you have my expertise, Disney love, and hundreds of amazing vacations on your team. This can be a challenging time to navigate planning a Disney vacation. Let me help make it magical!

Have a wonderful week!

Happy Dreaming,

Brooke

P.S. Did you get this week’s Disney Parks News Update? Check it out here.

The runDisney Experience

Last week, runDisney announced that the 2021 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend and the 2021 Princess Half Marathon Weekend races are being transitioned to runDisney virtual races. These races have been sold out for months, and there are thousands of disappointed runners and walkers that will now have to miss out on the runDisney experience.

Check out our YouTube video below to see last week’s breaking news update.

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Before we get into the runDisney virtual race experience, let’s talk about the “regular” runDisney race experience.

The runDisney Experience

The first runDisney event I ever saw in person was the Walt Disney World Marathon back in 2011. My husband and I happened to be visiting Animal Kingdom the morning of the WDW Marathon that day, and we had no idea the race was going on. (What can I say…we were a little oblivious!)

As we approached Expedition Everest, cast members directed us to the side of the pathway to allow marathon racers to pass through. There were a few racers that “hopped out” of the race to grab a quick ride on Expedition Everest, which we thought was amazing and fun. We stood and watched marathon racers come through the park, literally paralyzed by fascination. I was stunned to see a blind runner, tethered to a guide runner by a bungee cord. There were runners and walkers of all shapes and sizes.

I hated running in school. My father was a runner, and I remember him frustratedly trying to “teach me” to run when I was in junior high, in hopes that I would learn to love it like he did. (Never happened!). I had NEVER aspired to be a runner, nor had I ever considered a long distance run of ANY kind. (Seriously, the one mile requirement in high school was WAY too long a distance for me!)

The Fire is Lit

But something happened to both my husband and myself that day as we watched the runners and walkers traverse Animal Kingdom in what we would learn later was approximately mile 14 of the 26.2 mile course throughout Walt Disney World. A fire started in both of us to someday be able to participate in one of these massive events. We wanted to run (in my husband’s case) or walk (in my case) a long distance race! I’m still not exactly sure how it happened, but I can tell you that I got very emotional watching those racers, and it was like something clicked inside me.

The next year, we registered for the runDisney Half Marathon for WDW Marathon weekend. Unfortunately, during my training, I screwed up my knee and we were unable to race. Back in those days, Disney would still allow you to cancel or postpone a race registration, so we deferred to the following year. We still took our Disney vacation, and watched racers in both the Half Marathon and the full Marathon races. The fire grew even stronger, and we knew the next year we would for sure be there to race. And you know what? We were!

Our First runDisney Experience

My husband completed the full marathon in January 2013. The heat was stifling that day, with temperatures rising to over 93 degrees during the last few hours of his race. He walked most of it, since he had trained with me, and with my knee issues, running was out of the question. It took him almost 8 hours to finish but he did it. It was an amazing moment, and I was so incredibly proud of him!

runDisney trip planning vacation planning training tips — 2013 WDW Marathon FRANK IS A FINISHER!

I also walked in the marathon, but got pulled just after I left Animal Kingdom because I couldn’t maintain the required pace of 16 minutes/mile. I completed almost 15 miles and was very proud of myself, even though I was disappointed to have been pulled from the race.

the runDisney experience — runDisney WDW Marathon 2014 (Photo: MarathonPhoto)

We realized in the fall as we were training that with my knee issues, I would not be able to go the full marathon distance. When that happened, I had tried to change my registration to the half marathon, but Disney no longer allowed changes, refunds or deferments. So I participated in the marathon, but completed just over the half marathon distance.

runDisney experience — runDisney WDW Marathon, January 2013 (Photo: MarathonPhoto)

Frank and I stayed together until mile 11. I encouraged him to go on because I was starting to slow down, and wasn’t sure how far I’d make it before they pulled me from the course. I didn’t want his race jeopardized. As I was entering Animal Kingdom, I saw him on the path exiting Animal Kingdom…that was a pretty exciting moment.

Advantages of a runDisney Event

These events are HUGE. Each race has approximately 25,000 participants. The participants are divided into groups or “corrals” to determine when they will start the race. The faster runners start in the earlier corrals, while the slower runners and walkers get placed in corrals farther back. Participants are required to submit a time from another sanctioned event if they want to be placed in earlier corrals.

runDisney has been hosting these events at Walt Disney World for more than 25 years. They have them down to a science at this point. They have TONS (thousands, seriously) porta potties brought in and stationed at various intervals throughout each race. There are lots of water stations throughout the race.

the rundisney experience rundisney porta potties — runDisney Porta Potties (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

I’m a “back of the packer”, which means I am usually walking towards the back of the race crowd by the last half of the race. I’ve done other big races since that first runDisney event, and I’ve run into issues with water stations being out of water and closed down before I ever got to them. That would never happen with a runDisney event.

Welcoming to Walkers AND Runners

The best thing about the runDisney experience is that the required maximum pace (16 minutes per mile) makes these races doable for runners AND walkers. These events are terrific milestones for people trying to get off the couch and into a walking or running routine. There are thousands of examples of runDisney participants that have lost tons of weight in pursuit of runDisney dreams. These races are beginner friendly, as well as lots of fun for experienced racers as well.

There are some important things to keep in mind. runDisney welcomes EVERYONE, regardless of size, speed or talent. However, if you are unable to maintain a pace faster than 16 minutes per mile, you will be pulled from the course. While these events are beginner friendly, you DO need to train for these distances. Don’t think you can just show up and run 14 miles (or 26 miles!) without training, and be able to finish, let alone keep the pace. That is dangerous and inconsiderate of the other racers around you.

Courtesy and Race Ettiquette

Also, if you know you are moving slower than those around you, keep to one side, and don’t walk or run more than 2 people wide. Faster runners sometimes get frustrated with slower walkers or runners in front of them, especially in the beginning of the race when so many people are still congested together. Try not to let it intimidate you, but also be respectful of those around you. If you are slowing down or stopping, try to make sure you aren’t doing it directly in front of someone else. Try to get out of the way if you can.

Having said that, I personally think a runDisney event is a SUPER goal to shoot for if you are working on adding walking or running to your fitness routine, or if you are working on weight loss.

I’m planning to train for and complete the virtual Princess Fairy Tale Challenge in February, and will post periodic updates on the blog with my progress.

Weight Loss on Vacation?

Let’s face it, unless you are super good about making healthy choices, most Disney vacations are going to include a lot of treats. While you walk a lot on any Disney vacation, it’s usually NOT enough to burn off all the extra calories from those Mickey Bars and margaritas.

However, run 20 or 30 miles during your vacation? You’ll definitely come out ahead on the weight loss front. 😉

Entertainment and Photo Opps

By far, one of the best things about the runDisney experience is the entertainment sprinkled throughout the course. There are characters at various intervals of the race course. You might see parade floats. There is often music or a band playing. There are signs in some places, and each mile marker is colorful, large and encouraging.

the runDisney experience runDisney Castle Picture — runDisney Castle pic during the race (Photo: MarathonPhoto)

For the shorter races, the 10K and the Half Marathon distances, you race through Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. For the full Marathon, you race through all four theme parks. There is nothing like running up Main Street towards Cinderella Castle with 25,000 of your fellow Disney fans. I get emotional just thinking about it. It’s quite a moment!

It’s All About the Bling Baby

runDisney has beautiful medals! They are always of high quality and heavy. The really fun thing about the runDisney experience and runDisney races is that most racers wear their medals into the parks as they tour after the races. With most other (non Disney) races, you get the medal at the end of the race. You go home, hang it up (or shove it in a drawer, your mileage may vary) and that’s it.

With runDisney, you wear your medal for a couple of days around the parks. I get the impression that elite runners think this is a silly practice. And let’s face it, for the runners that barely break a sweat, complete the race in 2 hours or less, and have a room FULL of medals, it probably it. But for most of us regular joes? We worked really hard for that medal, and it’s really gratifying to be able to show it off for a bit. Cast members and even other park guests will often express congratulations and it’s very uplifting and gratifying.

DisAdvantages of a runDisney Event

The biggest disadvantage of runDisney events? The price. I’m not saying it’s not worth it, because they are amazingly well organized events. The race logistics (water stations, porta potties, race entertainment) are second to NONE. The medals are always beautiful, and the race shirts are always high quality with fun runDisney themed designs.

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But these are expensive events. In the early days, racers also got a one day theme park ticket as part of their race registrations; that is no longer the case and race prices are higher than ever. Race prices range from around $90 (for 5k races) to $225 (for Marathon). If you want to do a challenge that includes 2 or more races, challenge prices START at $340 and go up from there.

Vacation Expenses

And of course, unless you live in the Orlando area, you’ve got the added expenses of a Disney vacation. Not that I object to those expenses, because hey, Disney vacation. But this is definitely a more expensive race weekend that say, going to Chicago or St. Louis for a Rock n Roll Half Marathon, know what I mean?

Crowds

As I mentioned above, thousands of runners and walkers participate in these races. Even though the races are split into corrals, and each corral starts a few minutes later than the last, there are still hundreds of racers in each corral. During the first few miles of the race, the course is fairly congested, and serious runners often complain that they aren’t able to get to the speed they want to race at due to the congestion.

These events also welcome a lot of first time racers, who may not be familiar with race etiquette, and may not understand the need to move to one side to allow faster racers to pass them. They may not understand that they should not race in “packs” and block faster traffic behind them.

I tend to recommend that racers do these races for the fun, the experience and the camaraderie, rather than to pursue a fast time or a personal record time. As with anything else, your attitude determines your joy in anything, and if you allow yourself to get frustrated with slower racers or the congestion, you will not enjoy the runDisney experience nearly as much.

Wearing Out Your Legs

The challenge of a runDisney vacation, especially if you aren’t a hard core runner, is that you need to plan your trip so that you DON’T wear out your legs walking around the parks (or the race Expo) prior to your race (or races!) In 2014, we did both the 10K race on Friday and the half marathon on Saturday. We walked WAY too much on Thursday and Friday, so by Saturday night, I was DYING. (My husband never seems to wear out though. Not sure WHAT his secret is!)

It’s really hard to be at Disney World and NOT want to walk all over and visit your favorite attractions. If you can afford the time (and the hotel costs), I highly recommend you save park touring for AFTER your races (and maybe allow a day for recovery in there somewhere!).

The runDisney Experience

To summarize, the runDisney experience is so much fun, and honestly, can be life changing. I love every Disney vacation, but our runDisney trips have been among my favorites.

Now that you have a good understanding of the runDisney experience, it’s time to talk about runDisney’s virtual events. In the next post in this series, we will discuss how runDisney virtual events work, the costs, how to register, and what to expect if you decide to do a virtual runDisney event.

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

Disney Parks News Update 09.30.20

It’s time for another Disney Parks News Update. In this week’s report, we discuss Governor Ron DeSantis’ decision to move the State of Florida to Phase 3. This removes capacity restrictions on theme parks, restaurants and bars throughout Florida. We also discuss Disney’s announcement that they are laying off 28,000 employees from their theme parks division.

We also report on changes to entertainment at Walt Disney World in the coming weeks. In addition, there was fireworks testing going on after hours and the ongoing refurbishment at the Polynesian Villages Resort. Finally, we give you an update on runDisney’s virtual race registrations and report a parade sighting on this week’s Dancing With the Stars.

Please check out this weeks Disney Parks News Update below.

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For those of you that prefer reading, here’s the written version of this week’s Disney Parks News Update.

Disney Parks News Update

Florida moves to Phase 3

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis officially moved Florida to Phase 3, effectively lifting Covid-19 restrictions on theme parks, restaurants and bars. The state is no longer issuing fines for failure to comply with mask regulations, and is no longer restricting capacity.

Disney released a statement, essentially stating that they will continue to adhere to their reopening plans, and continue to exercise caution and above and beyond safety protocols. As we mentioned last week, Disney has been quietly increasing capacity in its theme parks; however I would not expect any drastic or sudden changes in response to the Governor’s actions.

Disney Lays Off 28,000 Employees

Yesterday, Disney announced upcoming layoffs of 28,000 employees from its theme parks division. While many Disney theme park employees were furloughed following the closure in April due to the Pandemic, this announcement is a major blow to theme park employees both hoping to be brought back to work soon, and those currently working in the parks.

Disney’s official statement cites California’s failure to allow Disneyland to reopen as a major factor; however, the travel industry as a whole has been VERY hard hit this year, and it may take years for it to fully recover. Sea World, Universal and other Florida theme parks have also been announcing layoffs, just not quite this large.

Our hearts go out to all the employees that will soon learn they are among the 28,000. This has been such a difficult year for so many, and this giant layoff by one of the worlds largest corporations is certainly an indicator that no one is immune from the pain, not even the happiest places on Earth.

Fireworks Testing

In the “good news” category, there was some after hours testing of Fireworks over at EPCOT a few nights ago. The testing went on for several hours. Most likely, this is Disney testing the new nighttime show for EPCOT, Harmonious. Harmonious was originally scheduled to be added to EPCOT this summer or fall; however, it is more likely that it will be added in the spring. This new show is supposed to be the biggest and most technical of any of the nighttime Epcot spectaculars, and it is likely that months of testing lie ahead before the show is released to guests.

Disney Epcot Updates Epcot 2020 Nighttime Show — Epcot Nighttime Show, Harmonious, Concept Art, Artist’s Rendering (Source: Disney Parks)

When fireworks DO return to Disney, I do think EPCOT is a great candidate for the first shows as it is more spread out and will allow for more disbursement of crowds and less congestion. However, fireworks shows like Disney does are very expensive and I highly doubt they will resume until the parks are returned to normal capacity and the hotels are all back open and full of guests.

Magic Kingdom Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom announced a couple attraction closures this week. The Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer island will be closed from October 5 through at least Jan 21 2021 for refurbishment. This may mean that the Rivers of America will be drained during that period, although that is not confirmed.

Magic Kingdom Liberty Square Riverboat — Liberty Square Riverboat (Photo: Disney Parks)

Polynesian Villages Resort Refurbishment

Last week we discussed that the Polynesian Villages Resort will be closed until next year as it is getting refurbishment. At that time Disney had not released any concept art.

Disney has now released this concept art for the new entrance and Port Cochere for the Polynesian Villages Resort. Further, Disney stated the resort will reopen in Summer 2021. The Polynesian’s 50^th anniversary is October 1 2021, and it seems the refurbishment is designed to coincide with that anniversary as well as with Walt Disney World’s 50^th Anniversary, also October 2021.

Polynesian Villages Resort Refurbishment — Concept Art: Polynesian Villages Resort (Concept Art: Disney Parks and Resorts)

The statement released by Disney with the new art stated that the new entrance will feature a bold new facade that will complement the longhouses throughout the resort. Disney also stated that the gardens and fountains are getting refurbished as well, with new dramatic lighting elements, and new chandeliers, inspired by glass floats, fishing nets and bamboo. The new outdoor chandeliers will match the existing chandelier in the resort lobby and bridge the two spaces.

Disney World guests can still access the Grand Ceremonial House and its operating retail and dining venues during the refurbishment project.

I think this is preliminary art is a good sign. The Polynesian’s ground entrance has always been a little underwhelming, and it looks like Disney is finally fixing that, and making it more worth of this beautiful resort.

The Grand Floridian Orchestra

After 32 years, Disney has ended the run of the Grand Floridian Orchestra. This six piece orchestra has entertained guests at the Grand Floridian from high above the lobby for years, and is beloved by many.

While the Grand Floridian remained closed to guests when the parks reopened, the Grand Floridian Orchestra was performing several times per day over at Hollywood Studios in the Beauty and the Beast theater as the Disney Society Orchestra.

The Grand Floridian Orchestra announced a few days ago that their final Walt Disney World performance will be at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Saturday October 3, 2020. Disney’s official statement was pretty brief and vague, but seemed to indicate that it was time for a change at the Grand Floridian.

More likely, the cut is budget related, and is a troubling indicator of things to come. In March, many of the entertainment acts featured throughout EPCOT World Showcase found their contracts canceled. I am very concerned that we are losing, perhaps permanently, that “extra” entertainment that is part of what makes Disney parks so very special.

Entertainment Coming to Hollywood Studios

However, there is some good news on the entertainment front. At Hollywood Studios, we have some entertainment coming back very soon. For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing A Long Celebration is returning to Hollywood Studios on October 5, 2020.

Frozen Sing a Long Celebration — For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-a-long Celebration (Photo: Disney Parks)

Disney has stated that there are no changes to the show, other than minor staging and audience seating to allow for social distancing.

Also coming soon to the animation courtyard is Disney Junior Play and Dance. These dance parties will feature a DJ playing songs and encouraging kids to dance. Disney Junior stars like Mickey Mouse and Vampirina will appear on stage during the dance party.

Pop Up Motorcades at Hollywood Studios

Pop up motorcades are coming to Hollywood Studios. These motorcades will allow guests to see their favorite characters safely, and provide photo opportunities. Much like the character cavalcades we’ve been seeing at Magic Kingdom, these themed motorcades will not appear on the daily schedule. This will discourage crowds from gathering to see a motorcade. These motorcades will pop up throughout the day.

Disney Parks News Updates Pop Up Motorcade Incredibles — Pixar Pals Character Motorcade (Photo: Disney Parks)

There are three different motorcades, all featuring custom colorful convertibles, powered by Chevrolet. Gotta love those sponsorships. The Mickey and Friends motorcade will feature Minnie, Mickey, Pluto and Chip and Dale. The Pixar Pals Motorcade will feature the Incredibles, Woody, Buzz lightyear and others. The Disney junior stars motorcade will feature Fancy Nancy, Doc McStuffins and Vampirina.

Disney Parks Updates Pop Up Motorcade Vampirina — Disney Junior Character Motorcade (Photo: Disney Parks)

runDisney Virtual Race Registration Update

Last week we shared runDisney’s announcement that the 2021 Marathon Weekend and 2021 Princess Half Marathon weekend were both transitioning to virtual races, and that registration for the races was opening up for those races for a limited time.

Registration is currently still open for all the virtual races for both weekends, if you are interested. I don’t know how long registration will remain open, so I wouldn’t wait too long.

If you’re not familiar with a “virtual” race, basically you will run the race on the scheduled date, but you will run it in a location of your choosing, not on Disney property and without the porta-potties and water stations we rely on for major races. For marathon weekend, prices range from $40-79 for the 5K, $49-$99 for the 10k, $59-$118 for the half, and $65-$120 for the full marathon. The lower price includes a digital bib, digital race tool kit including mile markers, digital goody bag, virtual playlist. The higher price adds an event tech shirt.

The challenges are also available: Goofy (the half and full completed on consecutive days) is $129 – $275, and Dopey (all four races completed on consecutive days) is $225 – $480.

Pricing for the Princess half marathon weekend is very similar. We are posting a more detailed post about the runDisney virtual races tomorrow. Please check back to visit that post.

Disney and Dancing with the Stars

Finally, loosely tied to Parks news, it was Disney week on Dancing with the Stars. Host Tyra Banks sported Minnie ears and a Minnie inspired dress throughout the show, and every dance featured Disney songs.

Disney Parks News Updates Dancing with the Stars Tyra Banks — Disney Week on Dancing with the Stars. Host Tyra Banks (Screenshot: Hulu)

The highlight for me was the inclusion of elements from the Main Street Electrical Parade during the beginning segment of the show. The “floats” were displayed and the little snail even drove around the dance floor.

Disney Parks News Updates Dancing with the Stars Main Street Electrical Parade — The Main Street Electrical Parade Visits Disney Week on Dancing with the Stars (Screenshot: Hulu)

I’ve always loved this little parade, and was happy to see the floats and elements still exist. Hopefully we will all get a chance to see this beloved nighttime parade at a Disney park sometime soon!

Tune in Next Week for More Disney Parks News Updates!

We hope you have enjoyed this week’s Disney Parks News Update. Please join us next Wednesday for next week’s news!

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

P.S. Looking for last week’s Disney Parks News Updates? Please visit our YouTube video here.

Disney World and Disneyland Closing Due to Coronavirus

Breaking news! The Walt Disney Company announced today that Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris and Disneyland will be closing due to the coronavirus. In addition, Disney Cruise Line departures are cancelled through the end of March.

These new Disney theme park closures follow the closures of Shanghai Disney, Tokyo Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland earlier this month.

Earlier this week, we gave you an update regarding Disney’s policies and procedures for both U.S. Disney Parks and Resorts and Disney Cruise Line. If you’d like to review that article, please visit here.

However, in just a few days, the coronavirus has caused increasing concerns worldwide, affecting the decisions of people all over the globe. As a result, Disney has announced that Disney Parks in the U.S. and France will close beginning March 16, 2020. The parks will remain closed through the end of the month.

Disney World and Disneyland Closing due to coronavirus — Photo: Brooke Hudson

Disney’s Official Statements

Disney released these statements late Thursday afternoon.

Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris and Disney Cruise Line

“In an abundance of caution and in the best interest of our Guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of our theme parks at Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida and Disneyland Paris Resort, beginning at the close of business on Sunday, March 15, through the end of the month.

Disney Cruise Line will suspend all new departures beginning Saturday, March 14, through the end of the month.

The Walt Disney Company will pay its Cast Members during that closure period.

The hotels at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris will remain open until further notice. The retail and dining complexes, Disney Springs at Walt Disney World and Disney Village at Disneyland Paris, will remain open.

Domestic Walt Disney Company employees who are able to work from home are being asked to do so, including those at The Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Television, ESPN, Direct-to-Consumer, and Parks, Experiences and Products.

We will continue to stay in close contact with appropriate officials and health experts.”

Disneyland and California Adventure

“While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland® Resort, after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the Governor of California’s executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, beginning the morning of March 14 through the end of the month.

The Hotels of the Disneyland Resort will remain open until Monday, March 16 to give guests the ability to make necessary travel arrangements; Downtown Disney will remain open. We will monitor the ongoing situation and follow the advice and guidance of federal and state officials and health agencies. Disney will continue to pay cast members during this time.

Disneyland Resort will work with guests who wish to change or cancel their visits, and will provide refunds to those who have hotel bookings during this closure period. We anticipate heavy call volume over the next several days and appreciate guests’ patience as we work hard to respond to all inquiries.

Please contact The Walt Disney Travel Company for questions and cancellations at 714.52.5050.”

Questions You May Have

To learn more about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the U.S. response to it by visiting the CDC.

What if I have a vacation package booked while the parks are closed?

You can cancel or modify your room reservation or Walt Disney Travel Company package up until your original scheduled check in date. There will be no fee to change your dates or cancel your package. If you take no action to change or cancel, Disney will automatically process a refund to your original form of payment within seven days of your original check in date.

What if I have a vacation package booked after March 31? (But I don’t want to travel during that time?)

Disney has temporarily changed their change and cancellation policy. If you have a room reservation or vacation package with a check in date through June 30, 2020, you can change your dates or cancel your reservation with no penalty or cancellation fee.

How does the closure impact my annual pass?

Annual passes will be extended by the number of days the parks are closed. (Note: Disney has officially answered this question for WDW Annual Passes, but I am fairly confident that the same will hold true for Disneyland Annual Passes.)

What if I have date specific theme park tickets for the period the parks will be closed?

Unexpired multi-day theme park tickets with unused days or date specific theme park tickets with a start date on or before March 31, 2020 will be automatically extended to use any date before December 15, 2020. If you can’t visit the parks prior to December 15, 2020, you may apply the value of your wholly unused ticket toward the purchase of a ticket for a future date.

What if I have a ticket for Disney After Hours, Disney Villains After Hours or Disney Early Morning Magic between March 16, 2020 and March 31, 2020?

Your ticket will be automatically refunded because those events are being cancelled.

What if I’ve prepaid for a dining reservation or an experience reservation like Build a Droid ? (Scheduled between March 16, 2020 and March 31, 2020?)

All prepaid dining and experience reservations will be automatically refunded if they were scheduled to occur between March 16, 2020 and March 31, 2020.

What about dining reservations that I guaranteed with a credit card?

You will not pay a cancellation or no-show fee for reservations at locations impacted by the closures.

Disney World and Disneyland Closing Due to Coronavirus — Final Thoughts

I am disappointed that Disney made these decisions to close their parks worldwide. However, I understand that governmental and public pressures made this result almost inevitable.

I am very happy to see that Disney will continue to pay all cast members impacted by the closures. When I first heard this news, I was very concerned for the cast members. It’s fairly well known that Disney cast members’ wages are pretty low. I suspect many cast members live paycheck to paycheck as do so many people these days. The impact of two weeks without pay could be ruinous to many people. I am glad to see that Disney is stepping up and taking care of their people.

It is of course possible that Disney could elect to extend these closures beyond the end of March; however, I am hopeful that will not be necessary. I hope that in April, we will see a return to normalcy across the country and the world; not just for Disney but for all of us.

What are your thoughts about Disney World and Disneyland closing due to the coronavirus? Do you have any vacation plans impacted by these closures? Please comment with your thoughts below.

Please take care of yourselves and those you love!

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

Where are you Staying?

Staying Off Disney Property

Staying on Disney Property

Magical Express

Mears Transportation

Is Your Trip All About Disney or Will You Visit Other Tourist Destinations?

Combining Disney and Universal Studios

Shopping

Convenience versus Cost

Modes of Transportation

Monorail

Boats and Water Taxis

Skyliner

The Rental Car Advantage

Freedom and Flexibility

A Possible Disadvantage for Some

Lyft/Uber

Final Answer: Should I Rent a Car for my Disney Vacation?

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Free Parking Returns for Disney Resort Guests Immediately!

Is this a PR Move?

Final Thoughts

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Counter Service

Quick Service Menu: Crepes A Emporter at La Creperie de Paris

Our Thoughts

Table Service: La Creperie de Paris

Decor

Service

Table Service Menu: La Creperie de Paris

Our Thoughts

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Socially Distanced Characters

Character Greetings Returning!

Which Character are You Most Excited to See?

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runDisney Races are back in 2021

Disney’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend

Pricing

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

Registration

Pricing

Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend 2022

Registration

Pricing

Surprise! runDisney has a NEW Race in the Family

Health and Safety

Virtual Races are Sticking Around

Registration Dates for Virtual Races

It’s True. runDisney races are BACK at Walt Disney World.

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Disney Parks News

Entertainment Cast Layoffs

Which Parks and Shows were Affected?

Magic Kingdom

Hollywood Studios

Animal Kingdom

EPCOT

Resorts

Potential Impact of these Layoffs

Streetmosphere Actors in Permanent Danger?

What Message are Fans Sending Disney?

Disney vs. California: Shot Fired?

But…HOW??

Buena Vista Street: What is Opening?

Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

Holiday Entertainment

Holiday Music

Holiday Cookie Stroll

Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition

Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

Walt Disney World Entrances Get a Makeover!

That’s it for this week’s Disney Parks News!

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