#disneycastledreaming - Disney Castle Dreaming Travel

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 Parks News Update 10.07.20

This week’s Disney Parks News Update includes more information about Disney’s recent announcement that 28,000 cast members from the theme parks division will be laid off. Critics and analysts weigh in on Disney’s decision. Also featured this week: Disney resort news from Hawaii, Walt Disney World Discounts, and runDisney virtual race updates. Please watch this week’s video below.

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For those of you that would rather read than watch the video, today’s Disney Parks News Update is detailed below.

Disney Layoffs

This week’s top story continues to be Disney laying off more than 25% of its 100,000 theme park employees. We have learned that 67% of the 28,000 theme park employees being laid off are part time employees. Also, 6,700 of the employees being laid off are Walt Disney World non union employees.

Disney is still negotiating the terms of the layoffs with the various unions. Therefore, we don’t yet have numbers for union employees being impacted by the layoffs.

However, we are hearing that all departments and all levels within the theme park division are being affected. From Imagineers to Janitorial staff, every department is being impacted. Of the employees so far that have gotten the call, it seems that December 4, 2020 is the effective date for most of the layoffs so far.

We won’t know the impact on the guest experience until after December 4. However it seems pretty obvious that the guest experience WILL be significantly impacted.

Orlando Sentinel’s Scott Maxwell Weighs In

Scott Maxwell at the Orlando Sentinel had a terrific commentary piece this week addressing the Orlando area’s dependence on tourism as the primary economic driver and primary source of employment. Maxwell included information about many of the other tourism related layoffs happening in and around the Orlando area, including 1,900 Sea World employees, 2,300 Universal Studios employees, and thousands of employees from various hotel employers. It’s a really interesting commentary and I encourage you to check it out.

Abigail Disney Chastises Disney

Also weighing in on Disney’s decision to layoff 28,000 employees was Abigail Disney. Abigail Disney is the granddaughter of Disney co-founder Roy Disney. She took to twitter to make her feelings about the layoffs known. In her Twitter thread about the layoffs, Abigail Disney chastised Disney for underpaying its theme park employees. She also emphasized the impact these layoffs will have on employees and their families.

She went on to say “If Disney had not spent down every penny of its cash on share buy-backs in 2019 (11.5 billion worth), perhaps there’d have been some dough on hand to ensure that even at a partial level they could continue to keep some of these workers on until things return to normal.”

Strong words, to be sure. However, it is important to realize that her words are likely to have little effect on Disney, a giant publicly traded company. Ms. Disney does not currently hold a position of power or influence at Disney. She is, nonetheless, a member of the Disney family and is expressing her personal opinions.

Disney World Reopens — Disney Cast Member (Photo: Disney Parks)

October Hours

In more optimistic news, Disney has recently been increasing park hours here and there. Most weekends in October now feature extended hours, with each park staying open about one hour later than the rest of the week. I think this is a result of increased capacity as well as Disney’s attempt to drive more guests to quick service and table service restaurants open later in the day.

We are hopeful that we will continue to see this happen into November and December. Keep in mind that Disney always reserves their right to change park hours, at their discretion, based on anticipated crowds, staffing levels and other parameters.

Crowd Levels

As we mentioned last week, Disney has been quietly increasing capacity levels and adding park reservation availability for both annual passholders, resort guests and ticket holders. We are seeing longer lines, especially on the weekends. This trend is expected to continue as Disney moves closer and closer to normal.

We can pretty confidently say that we do not expect crowd levels to return to the extremely low levels we were seeing in the first couple months the parks reopened. Guests are gaining more confidence both in traveling in general, and in Disney’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic specifically. I think Disney will continue gradually increasing capacity in response both to the State of Florida’s movement to Phase 3 and to guest reservations and demand.

We don’t yet know when (or even IF) we can expect Fast Pass+ to return. For now, the lack of Fast Pass+ actually helps the overall speed of the stand by lines. This is the result of cast members not needing to merge Fast Pass+ holders into the standby lines.

Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa

While this is not theme park news, this is a Disney resorts news story. Disney has announced that Disney’s Hawaiian resort, Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa will begin gradually reopening on November 1, 2020.

Disney is working with the State of Hawaii to coordinate their reopening plans. Potential guests are encouraged to check with the Hawaiian tourism board for specific travel restrictions that may include mandated quarantines or pre travel testing. Visit gohawaii.com/travel-restrictions to learn more.

Aulani Flexible Cancellation Policy

To encourage guests to visit Aulani, Disney has some new policies and discounts in place.

First, there is a flexible cancelation policy in place for Aulani guests through May 20, 2021. This policy enables guests to cancel their Aulani reservations up to 24 hours before arrival without penalty!

If you have been thinking about planning a Hawaiian vacation, but have been concerned about future Covid-19 developments, this flex policy is terrific. You can plan with confidence, knowing that if you need to reschedule or even cancel your trip you can do so without worry about losing money.

Disney Parks News Update Aulani — Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa (Photo: Disney Parks and Resorts)

Aulani Discounts

Also in place to encourage guests to visit Aulani are discounts of up to 35%, depending on your dates and room types. This resort is truly extraordinary, and is an amazing vacation destination. If you’d like more information on planning an Aulani vacation, please contact me at Brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.

Walt Disney World Vacation Package Discounts

Staying on the topic of discounts but returning to the theme parks, Walt Disney World is currently offering a few discounts I wanted to make you aware of.

First up, Vacation package discounts. These are room and ticket packages, and require a minimum 4 night stay/4 day ticket package. You can save up to $500 over the non discounted prices of room & tickets for the same dates.

Discounts vary by resort type, and are good for stays through December 25, 2020. As we’ve discussed before, the Disney theme park experience is limited right now. Much of the entertainment is not happening. Character meals and character greetings are not happening. Fireworks and parades are not happening.

While this is a decent discount, it’s not outstanding. Especially when you consider the given the current limited hours and entertainment offerings. However, if you really want to visit between now and December 25, I want to make sure you save as much money as possible. This discount may make a winter trip possible for some of you.

Southern State Disney Discounts

Disney is actively wooing guests from “southern” states. I think the game plan here is to appeal to guests within driving distance. Especially since so many travelers are still not comfortable flying right now.

To take advantage of this discounts, you must have residency in one of the following states:

- - - - Alabama
      - Georgia
      - Kentucky
      - Louisiana
      - Mississippi
      - North Carolina
      - South Carolina
      - Tennessee
      - Virginia
      - West Virginia

These discounts are room only packages. Discounts are up to 30% for guests staying in a deluxe resort, and up to 20% for guests staying in a value resort. If you want to price out a potential trip for your family, please contact me at brooke@disneycastledreaming.com or by commenting below.

Florida Resident Discounts

The biggest discounts at the moment are for Florida residents, which makes a lot of sense. Florida residents are most likely to be able to visit in the immediate short term.

If you are a Florida resident (note: they do make you prove residency), there are some really terrific discounts right now. The big win: you are eligible for a four day flex ticket at $49/day, which is a savings of about 50% over a regular priced four day ticket.

Florida residents are also eligible for room only hotel discounts of up to 35% for deluxe resorts and up to 25% for Art of Animation (a Value resort, but value Plus in my opinion.) These Florida resident discounts are really good, even with the current limitations of hours, entertainment, character greetings etc.

runDisney Virtual Races

In runDisney news, the virtual races for both the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend and the Princess Half Marathon Weekend for 2021 are still available to for registration. Race dates are:

- - Walt Disney World 2021 Marathon Weekend: January 7 – January 10, 2021
  - Princess Half Marathon 2021 Weekend: February 20 – 21, 2021

If you choose to do a virtual runDisney event, you are still going to train for your event. You will still complete the distance of the race you register for. Ideally, on the date the original runDisney onsite race was planned. The big difference? You will complete the race at home, on a route of your choosing or on your treadmill.

Your completion of the race is “required” for you to receive your finisher’s medal, which will be mailed out by Disney after the race weekends are complete. However, these virtual races are essentially done on the “honor system”. So if you do the race on a different day, or take more than 16 minutes per mile to complete the race, that will be ok.

Prices range from $49 – $500, depending on the race and/or the challenge you want to do, and whether you want to include the race tech shirts with your purchase.

Mom/Daughter Challenge

My mom and I have decided to do the Princess 10k virtual race together; I am also doing the Princess half marathon to complete the Fairy Tale Challenge. We’ll be posting our training updates both here and on the blog.

If you want to follow along, please make sure you subscribe both to our YouTube channel and to this blog.

If you’re considering a runDisney event, I offer “Couch to 10K”, “Couch to Half Marathon” and “Couch to runDisney Challenge” training programs that include weekly email coaching, training schedules and personalized support. Contact me to learn more. (Brooke@disneycastledreaming.com)

If you want to learn more about the runDisney experience, please check out this post.

And that’s it for this week’s Disney Parks News Update. If you have a topic you would like us to cover in the blog or on YouTube, please let us know by commenting below. You can also send an email to brooke@disneycastledreaming.com with your suggestions.

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

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 Reopening July 11, 2020

Great news today, everyone! Walt Disney World has presented their plan for reopening the parks in Florida to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force for approval. Pending that approval as well as state approval, Disney World is reopening July 11, 2020.

Disney World is NOT opening all at once, however. Like everything else, Disney World is going to reopen in phases.

Disney World’s Phased Reopening Approach

Initially, the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will open on July 11, 2020. A few days later, July 15, 2020, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios will open.

Disney World Reopening July 11, 2020 — Disney’s Magic Kingdom (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

Disney is very focused on managing this reopening very carefully and more importantly, very responsibly. They’re going to significantly limit attendance and guest density throughout the parks, once they reopen.

A Very Different Theme Park Experience

It’s important that we adjust our expectations to a new theme park experience. Covid-19 unfortunately has not been eradicated, nor do we (yet) have a vaccine. So it is very important that we continue to be careful and prioritize our health and safety. Social distancing, washing your hands, and wearing face masks are going to continue to be very important–at least for the foreseeable future.

Disney World Reopening July 11 — Cinderella Castle from Bay Lake Tower at Night (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

Some of Disney’s trademark experiences that draw large crowds are NOT returning to normal operations until further notice. This means there will be no fireworks, parades, or nighttime spectaculars. This also means that experiences that are considered “high touch” experiences are also not returning at this time. This includes “makeover” experiences (think Bibbidi Bobbidi Doo), character meet and greets, water play areas and playgrounds.

To summarize, while the parks ARE reopening, the following experiences are NOT reopening during these early phases.

- - Parades
  - Character Meet and Greets
  - Fireworks and Nighttime Spectaculars
  - Makeover Experiences
  - Water Play Areas
  - Playgrounds

Animal Kingdom Mickey and Minnie vacation planning top reasons to visit Disney trip planning tips — Linda & Brooke with Mickey & Minnie at Animal Kingdom (Photo: Disney PhotoPass)

Disney has not specifically mentioned popular stage shows that also draw crowds, like the Indiana Jones Stunt Show or Beauty and the Beast. I suspect those will either be limited or cancelled as well. It’s possible Disney is holding off decisions on these types of attractions until they get closer to opening the parks. I also think they may do limited seating to accommodate social distancing. Similar to ideas that have been floated for reopening movie theaters, Disney could close alternate rows, and suggest distance between families or groups. At this point we just don’t know.

Reservations for Park Entry

During this phased reopening of Disney World, Disney is going to require guest to make advance reservations to enter the park. This is how they intend to limit attendance at each park. They have not specifically stated how many guests will be allowed to enter each park once they are reopen; I suspect this is so they can test a variety of crowds as they see how things go. Initially, Shanghai Disney reopened with a capacity of 24,000 versus their normal capacity of 80,000.

While we don’t have official numbers, the Magic Kingdom has a max capacity of 100,000 people. (Personally, I find it pretty unpleasant any where NEAR that crowd level but different strokes for different folks!) I’m expecting that Disney will limit attendance at MK to 30,000 OR LESS during this first phase of reopening. Keep in mind, there are also THOUSANDS of cast members to support guests at the same time.

How to Make Reservations

Disney has not shared exactly HOW we are going to be able to make reservations for park entry. They HAVE indicated that guests with existing tickets and annual passholders will be able to make reservations for park entrance before the system will be opened up for new ticket sales.

Disney has temporarily halted new ticket sales and new resort reservations until they work through the existing and rescheduled reservations. Note: Disney Vacation Club members are the exception to this: they can still make resort reservations. Disney has indicated that they will be reaching out to existing ticket holders and annual passholders “soon” to discuss the process for making park reservations with them. The official statement says “more details about this new reservation system will be available soon”.

What Resorts are Reopening and When?

Disney has announced that Disney Vacation Club resorts in Orlando and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground are opening to guests June 22, 2020. In addition, Disney Vacation Club resorts in Vero Beach, Florida and Hilton Head, South Carolina are opening to guests beginning June 15, 2020. These resorts are reopening with new safety and cleanliness protocols in place. In addition, plans to support social distancing and enhanced cleaning measures are in place, according to Disney.

Old Key West Resort (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

At this time, Disney has not announced when additional resorts will be opening. My prediction is that they will roll out additional resorts as they gradually increase attendance thresholds at the parks. I’m sure there will be a lot of training for cast members at each resort as they prepare for reopening.

Will I Have to Wear a Mask?

Disney is putting various measures in place to protect health and safety of both guests and cast members as Disney World prepares to reopen July 11, 2020.

All guests over the age of three and all cast members will be required to wear face coverings inside the theme parks and in public areas of the resorts. On the upside, Disney is selling really cute face masks (of course!) at shopDisney.com now for pre-order. Check them out below. I mean, if you have to wear one, they might as well be adorable, right?

Disney has really cute face masks for sale — Disney themed face masks? Let’s go! Click the picture above.

shopDisney.com new Star Wars themed face masks — Star Wars themed face masks! Click the image above!

Toy Story themed face masks at shopdisney.com. Please click the picture above!

In addition, both guests and cast members will be required to undergo temperature checks prior to entering a theme park. Disney already has the temperature check system in place for guests entering Disney Springs.

Disney is also recommending cashless transactions whenever possible, encouraging guests to plan on using their magic bands or credit cards to minimize the handling or exchange of (potentially bacteria carrying) cash.

High traffic areas will get additional cleaning and disinfection procedures with higher frequency than other areas. Disney has also stated that procedures will be reviewed and updated frequently as we all get used to the new normal.

What Does it All Mean?

So, the good news: Disney World is reopening July 11, 2020. The not-as-good news is that things are going to be different. But let’s face it. There are a LOT of things in our lives that are going to be different going forward. Perhaps permanently different.

Disney has stated that the phased opening at Shanghai Disneyland has been going very well, and that they are encouraged by the guest response there. Let’s hope guests in Orlando will be as cooperative and understanding.

Disney continues to work with the CDC and other health officials to implement best practices for reopening. I suspect this will be an evolving situation as time goes on, and we all have a chance to see the impact that reopening has on our citizenry. Hopefully, we are going to continue the number of new cases shrink as life gradually returns to normal. However, it is important to recognize that public safety is critical, and should we see a surge in new cases, it is entirely possible that Disney will have to close again.

We’re All in This Together

It is vital that any guests intending to visit the parks in the next couple of months (and perhaps longer still) are prepared to wear masks, practice social distancing, wash their hands frequently and get their temperatures checked.

It is also important that guests weigh their desire to visit the parks against the potential risks to their own health, and the health of others. Finally, it is critical to understand that some experiences will NOT be happening for the first few weeks and months the parks are open. If those changes are going to make you unhappy, or cause you to question the expense, I recommend you reschedule your trip for later in the year or even to next year.

We must all work together to help this phased reopening of Disney and the rest of our country be successful. We must be respectful of the new safety protocols in place for the protection of EVERYONE. Wearing a mask in the Florida heat this summer may not be fun, but it may also help to save lives. I, for one, think that’s a small price to prevent other people getting sick, or even worse.

What We Don’t Know

There’s still a lot we DON’T know, and I expect information will become available in the weeks to come. I know I still have questions about dining and transportation. Are you wondering about Fast Passes and the virtual queue for Rise of the Resistance? I’d like to know about shows and the stretching room at the Haunted Mansion. I bet you are wondering about the new Space 220 restaurant at EPCOT and all the other construction projects in progress.

Lots of questions, and very few answers. I’m excited Disney is opening, and I’m anxious to see what’s to come!

Happy Dreaming,

Brooke

Authorized Disney Vacation Planner — Ready to Plan Your Disney Vacation!

P.S. ShopDisney.com is having a great summer sale right now. If you’re jonesing for a little Disney magic, check it out!

Full disclosure: I am a shopDisney.com affiliate.  If you visit shopDisney.com using one of my links, and your purchase results in a purchase, I will earn a small commission.  This does NOT cost you anything.  Thank you!

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Now Open!

There’s great news for all of us that love new attractions at Walt Disney World. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is now open! On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, Disney officially opened Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway to visitors–human and cartoons alike!

Early Reactions

Predictably, kids that watch Mickey Mouse shorts on the Disney Channel right now are the biggest fans of this new attraction. However, I think this attraction will find big fans of all ages. But let’s face: when you base an attraction on Mickey and his friends, you’re going after the kids in a big way. And it looks like it worked!

I could just die from the cuteness. Check out the video below from Disney.

I think you’ll agree that these kids are very excited that Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is now open!!

What to Expect?

FUN! This is a FUN attraction. It’s filled with bright colors, tons of animation and crazy antics from Mickey and his friends. Basically, as you move through the queue, you are leaving the human world and entering the cartoon world. The attraction does a great job submerging you in that cartoon world.

Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway Now Open — Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (Photo: Disney Parks)

Mickey and Minnie are going on a picnic. But Goofy is the train conductor. As you might imagine, things go a little bit wonky! The ride then leads us through various scenes inspired by Disney’s Emmy winning Mickey shorts series.

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a trackless dark ride. Your car is not actually linked to the cars in front of and behind you. It moves independently. This enables the attraction to feature some surprises, and adds to the repeatability of the attraction.

Disney released this video “Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Now Open”. See what you think!

There is a LOT going on in this attraction, and I think you’d have to ride it a few times to take everything in. It’s a little frantic at times in the way it moves through scenes, but that’s kind of how cartoons work, isn’t it?

The Imagineers have done their best to make two dimensional cartoons feel like they are three dimensional. I think they are mostly successful. There are scenes with a lot of physical depth to them, and you definitely feel surrounded on all sides by the particular scene you are in.

This is the first ride in Disney Parks history to feature Mickey Mouse. It’s also the first ride to feature Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto or Donald Duck.

Will I Still Miss The Great Movie Ride?

That depends on how much you loved it. In a perfect world, perhaps we would have both the old beloved attractions as well as all the new attractions. New attractions are vital to any theme park’s long term growth and survival. Mickey and Minnie have long deserved to be the stars of an attraction, and now finally, they are. I think the new attraction is a great addition to Hollywood Studios, and I think guests are really going to enjoy it. It’s a lot of fun, and I think there are lots of hidden gems in the scenes that it will take many rides to find.

Having said that, I personally still miss The Great Movie Ride. I love movies, and I always loved being able to “ride through the movies”. I loved the tributes to classic films, and I loved the cheesy live-action elements with the cast member taking us on our tour. Many people felt that it needed updating, and perhaps they were right. However, I think The Great Movie Ride was unique and really a integral part of what Disney’s Hollywood Studios (originally Disney MGM Studios) was trying to be. There really isn’t anything left at Hollywood Studios that feels like it’s a part of the movies or a tribute to movie history.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is an immersive experience that makes you feel like you are in those movies, true. You can feel like part of the story in Galaxy’s Edge, and it is both nostalgic and mind blowing. But it’s a different experience that what you got from The Great Movie Ride. That was more typical dark ride–riding through classic scenes, taking them in. The nostalgia factor was there, certainly. There was a little bit of camp and silliness. But for all the things I loved about The Great Movie Ride, I know lots of people were bored by or didn’t enjoy.

Change HAS to Happen

Walt Disney always said that the theme park has to change and grow with its audience. He said the park was not a museum. (Although wouldn’t a museum where you could go ride attractions that have been replaced be a fun place to go? Horizons, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Timekeeper…so many attractions in the attic of my memory. Sheesh, maybe I really am getting old!)

I recognize that today’s audience is different from the audience I grew up with. Today’s audience has a shorter attention span and require more activity and stimulation. To that end, I think Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway accomplishes what the Imagineers were going for. It’s a fast attraction with a lot going on. There’s a lot to look at, and there is a lot of stimulation. I think young audiences and fans of the Mickey shorts are going to LOVE this attraction.

Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway Mickey Shorts Posters — Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Posters (Disney Parks)

Personally, I don’t love the Mickey shorts, but I suspect that’s also my age showing. I grew up watching more traditional Mickey Mouse cartoons, and today’s Mickey shorts don’t look “right” to me. However, even though I’m not a fan of the current Mickey shorts, I still find a lot to love in this new attraction. It’s a lot of fun. I definitely think its an attraction you can joyfully ride many times without getting bored.

But I still miss The Great Movie Ride.

Fast Pass Reservations

Now that Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is open, you can of course make Fast Pass+ reservations. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is in Tier One of the Hollywood Studios Fast Pass+ reservation system. Basically, this means you have to choose between three of the park’s most popular attractions for one of your Fast Pass+ reservations. Your other two Fast Pass+ selections will come from Tier Two. (To learn more about the Fast Pass+ reservation structure, read this post.)

If you are in the midst of vacation planning for a trip this year, I would definitely plan on using your Tier One Fast Pass+ at Hollywood Studios for this attraction, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. The newest attractions are ALWAYS the most popular, which automatically means long lines. And when a new attraction gets good reviews? That just makes it even more popular. If there isn’t any availability for this attraction, Slinky Dog Roller Coaster is probably your next priority, followed by Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. While Slinky Dog is the oldest of these three Tier One attractions, it’s still barely 2 year old, and remains incredibly popular. Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run is also extremely popular; however, most afternoons, you can ride with waits under 30 minutes.

Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is Now Open — Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (Photo Disney Parks)

Booking a Fast Pass+ Reservation

Given that this is Disney’s newest attraction at Walt Disney World, I anticipate that Fast Pass+ reservations will continue to go very fast for several months to come. The only thing that MIGHT slow down demand will be if Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance moves over to Fast Pass+ system and is a Tier One attraction. (Currently, Rise of the Resistance is using a virtual queue system that assigns visitors to boarding groups. Learn more here.)

When booking Fast Passes for your vacation, I always recommend you book the hardest to get Fast Passes on your list FIRST, rather than working through your list day by day. [This is assuming you are staying on Disney property, and can book Fast Pass+ reservations for your entire stay (up to 10 days) sixty days prior to your vacation. If you are NOT staying on Disney property, you can book Fast Pass+ reservations, one day at a time, 30 days prior to the date of your visit.]

For example, if you are planning to visit Magic Kingdom on Monday, Hollywood Studios on Tuesday, Animal Kingdom on Wednesday and Epcot on Thursday, you might not necessarily book your Magic Kingdom Fast Pass+ reservations first, even though that is the first day you’ll be visiting the parks. You’ll want to take advantage of your full window, and book the hardest to get Fast Pass+ reservations first. Think about each park, and the attractions you want to make sure you get Fast Pass+ reservations for, if at all possible. Then consider which Fast Pass+ reservations disappear the fastest.

If Minnie and Mickey’s Runaway Railway is high on your list of must-ride attractions, you may want to book that Fast Pass+ reservation first or second as you work on your Fast Pass+ reservations. (For me personally, Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom is almost always the first Fast Pass+ reservation I book, followed by Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom. I will have to think about moving this new attraction in front of Seven Dwarfs as I plan our next trip.)

To visit Disney’s webpage for this attraction or to book your Fast Pass+ reservations (if you are in the window), click here.

What if I Can’t Get a Fast Pass+ Reservation?

Whenever you book your Fast Pass+ reservations, it’s very likely that you will be disappointed with at least one reservation you wanted. With so many guests visiting Disney every day and using the Fast Pass+ system, it’s impossible that we all get exactly what we want!

Don’t panic! Yes, it’s a bummer when you can’t get a Fast Pass+ reservation for a ride you really want to to ride. However, if you don’t get a Fast Pass+ reservation, it doesn’t mean you won’t get to ride the ride. It just means you will have to rely on the standby queue for your ride. (Side note: you should ride this attraction at least once via the standby queue as the Fast Pass line bypasses some really cute elements that are part of the standby queue.)

Start Early

As always, getting an early start is one of my top recommendations for shorter standby lines. So many guests like to sleep in during their vacations, or have a leisurely breakfast prior to heading to the parks. I love a good breakfast as much as the next person, but I like being in the parks with lighter crowds MORE.

Getting to the park early doesn’t mean NO line at your favorite attractions; however, it almost always means a shorter line than you’ll find later in the day. You will notice a surge in traffic as the park opens and guests head to the attraction they’ve chosen for their first ride.

At Magic Kingdom, the surge usually either heads towards Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Fantasyland or Space Mountain in Tomorrowland. At Hollywood Studios, the surge usually headed towards Toy Story Land and Toy Story Mania and Slinky Dog Coaster. Thrill seekers head towards the Rock n Roller Coaster or the Tower of Terror. Now that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has opened, a large portion of the morning “surge” heads directly towards Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge when the park opens.

If you can enter the line for your chosen attraction during the first 10 – 15 minutes the park is open, your lines (generally) will be fairly short, and you can move on to your next attraction. However, don’t run and please don’t run over small children to get to that first attraction. Sometimes in their enthusiasm, people forget to be kind–don’t be one of those people!

Ride at Night

Another tip for riding popular attractions? The end of the night. If you are in line before the park closes for the night, you WILL be able to ride the attraction. You may still have to wait in a fairly long line, but usually the lines at the very end of the night are much shorter than they’ve been the rest of the day.

Pay Attention to the App

I’m of two minds when it comes to the My Disney Experience App. I LOVE having access to my PhotoPass pictures right away. It’s really cool to book Fast Pass+ reservations on the fly via the app after you’ve used your first three of the day. I really like being able to take advantage of Mobile Ordering for Quick Service Restaurants via the app. And I really like being able to see wait times in the App.

However, I am also not a fan of seeing people with their heads buried in their phones while on vacation at one of the most magical places they could possibly be! Don’t let “checking the app” become your favorite past time. If you find yourself spending more time checking attraction wait times than talking to your kids, maybe turn off the phone for awhile.

Know How Long You’re Willing to Wait

Monitoring the wait times for one – three attractions you really want to ride can help you plan your park touring though. Briefly checking on those one – three attractions while you are waiting in line or taking a short break? That can show you when the lines have gotten shorter. Decide in advance what your threshold is.

For example, I am usually willing to wait 20 – 25 minutes for an attraction I really want to ride. 10 minutes if I’ve already ridden, but would like to ride again. If I check the app, and wait times have dropped below 20 minutes, I would probably adjust my plan to head to that attraction. For some attractions, you might be willing to wait longer, even up to an hour. (Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom is TOTALLY worth it!) Just know your threshold. If not riding a particular attraction is going to “ruin” your vacation, your threshold should be a lot higher than 10-30 minutes.

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is Now Open!

What do you think? Are you excited that Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is now open? Do you love the Mickey shorts? How soon will you take your first ride? Are you ready for Goofy to be your train conductor? Please comment below with your thoughts!

Happy Dreaming,

Brooke

Spaceship Earth is Closing For Refurbishments

We’ve been expecting this for a long time. Spaceship Earth was last updated in 2007, when new scenes and props were added to the attraction and Dame Judi Dench recorded a new narration. The 2007 refurbishment was the result of a six month closure of the attraction. This new refurbishment is going to be much more significant. Disney has announced that Spaceship Earth is closing for refurbishments on May 26, 2020.

Disney has not given us a firm timeline for this refurbishment; however, they have indicated a window of 18 – 30 months. I feel pretty comfortable predicting that this Spaceship Earth refurbishment will take at least 2 years.

Spaceship Earth Reimagining

Disney is calling this latest refurbishment of Spaceship Earth a “reimagining”. They are also telling us that it is going to be the most extensive refurbishment of the attraction since it opened in October 1982. The details, however, are sparse.

At last year’s D23 Expo, Disney announced the planned reimagining of Spaceship Earth. At that announcement, Disney shared that the new version of Spaceship Earth would focus on the journey of humanity through the ages. We were told that some scenes will be updated with new Disney magic, while some new scenes will be added.

It looks like the new iteration of this attraction will include new narration, telling a new story. The limited information we have indicates that light will be an important part of the new story. We will learn how light plays a role in our shared human journey, and what is possible when we all come together.

Disney has released this concept art for the updated Egypt scene in the attraction. This is a scene that is currently part of the attraction, but it is being updated and transformed to show the power of light.

Spaceship Earth Closing for Refurbishments — Spaceship Earth Reimagining: Egypt (Concept Art: Disney Parks)

The Bad News: Spaceship Earth is Closing

There’s no getting around it. Major attraction refurbishments are a bummer. Spaceship Earth is going to close for a long time–at least 18 months, according to Disney.

Spaceship Earth is a popular dark ride, with ride vehicles constantly moving. It’s an attraction that absorbs a LOT of people per hour, and the line moves fairly quickly, when there is a line. Often, the lines are very short. Again, because the attraction is constantly moving and so many guests can be riding the attraction at once. It’s a nice break from the Florida heat, and is a fairly long attraction, so your feet and legs get a nice break.

The attraction also provides a unique souvenir: the little game at the end of the attraction results in an image that you can email to yourself (or others) featuring animation and your face(s).

Spaceship Earth being closed for such a long time is definitely bad news. However, there are some good things about this closure, too.

Disney Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Vacation Planning Disney Travel Agent — Photo: Brooke Hudson

The Good News

The most obvious good news is that Spaceship Earth is getting a necessary refurbishment. This attraction has needed an update for many years now. Some of the scenes are looking tired and worn and many of the vehicles have shown signs of wear for years. In addition, Disney has done so much with technology in the years since the last refurbishment, I’m excited to see what they integrate into Spaceship Earth. I’m looking forward to updated scenes, a new story and new narration. We may even get new vehicles (not confirmed).

October 2022 will be the 40th Anniversary of Epcot. I’m hopeful that the new iteration of Spaceship Earth will be open by then, if not sooner. I suspect the Imagineers are very cognizant of that anniversary date, and would really like to have the attraction completed and to be a cornerstone of that celebration.

More Good News

This is not necessarily directly related, but I have a theory. I suspect the opening of the new Ratatouille themed attraction in the France pavilion will dovetail pretty closely with the closure of Spaceship Earth for refurbishments. As I mentioned above, Spaceship Earth currently absorbs a LOT of people each hour. When it closes, those people will join the queues for other attractions, potentially making lines longer all over Epcot. However, there is a new attraction opening “this summer” that will potentially be able to absorb a lot of those people. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is a new dark ride that will feature trackless vehicles.

Spaceship Earth is Closing for Refurbishments — Ride Vehicle for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (Photo: Disney Parks)

Disney has not given us a firm opening date for this attraction yet; however, I believe that it will closely coincide with the closing of Spaceship Earth. While I doubt that Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will move as many people through it per hour as Spaceship Earth does, a new attraction in the park will definitely help offset the loss of Spaceship Earth.

Currently, there is so much construction happening in the front of the park, the more Disney can move people through to World Showcase, the better. Getting Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure ready to open has to be a pretty big priority for them right now, I believe.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I think Spaceship Earth closing for refurbishment is a good thing. I think the ride needs updating and an infusion of new technology. I am disappointed that I won’t get to ride it one last time before it closes, though. I’m worried about the impact of this attraction closing on the lines and crowds in the park. I’m hopeful that new attractions and activities in other areas of the park will help offset the closing of Spaceship Earth.

What do you think about this announcement? Are you excited about the changes to Spaceship Earth or do you wish they’d just leave it alone? Please let me know in the comments below!

Happy Dreaming,

Brooke

How to Build Excitement for Your Upcoming Disney Vacation

Planning a first time trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland for your family or friends? Are you anxiously waiting for Disney trip that is a long way off? Are you looking for ways to get your family (or friends) excited about the trip? There are lots of great ways build excitement for your upcoming Disney vacation. I get a lot of questions about keeping family members excited about a Disney vacation that is a long way off. Since many people are planning their Disney vacation for up to 2 years in advance, the long lead time can sometimes seem never ending and frustrating.

Toy Story Mania Disney Vacation — Super Patient Kids Waiting in Line (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

When Should You Tell Your Kids They Are Going to Disney?

There are some different ways to approach this. You know your kids better than anyone else does, and what is right for your kids may be different than what is right for someone else. There is no absolutely right or wrong way to do this, no matter what “experts” on Facebook or Instagram might tell you. Follow your instincts—and use what you learn for the next trip.

Option: Tell Your Kids as Soon as You Start Planning

For a lot of us, planning a Disney vacation is a very exciting time. It can absorb a lot of your time and attention, especially if you are doing a lot of the planning yourself. You may find you want to talk about it a lot. You may want to get opinions and find out about wish lists. That can make keeping a secret for any length of time super challenging.

If you have older (teenagers +), I think it often makes a lot of sense to involve them in the planning, or at least some aspects of it.

Sharing the planning process with the whole family can be fun. Having family planning meetings to discuss the trip can help build excitement for your upcoming Disney vacation.

Fast Pass Planning Build Excitement — Fast Pass+ Planning (Photo: Brooke Hudson

However, sharing the planning process can also be stressful. If your family has a lot of strong personalities, planning can turn into arguing very quickly. One person not liking a character or movie that someone else loves can result in hurt feelings or anger.

If you are planning a trip more than one year in advance, which is extremely common, family members, especially younger kids, can get very frustrated with the long wait or vacation.

For this reason, I generally don’t recommend telling little kids about the upcoming trip until you are just a few months out. Kids don’t really understand time yet, and “next year” or “year after next” just aren’t concepts that make sense to them. As a result, they may drive you crazy asking when you are going to visit the Mouse’s House until the actual trip.

Again, you know your family. I just want to give you some things to consider as you make these decisions.

Option: Big Announcement or Gift Presentation

Some parents decide to announce the upcoming Disney vacation with a lot of bells and whistles. There are tons of super cute videos on YouTube of kids being surprised with the news they are going to Disney.

As a scavenger hunt girl, this one is a favorite:

The Ellen show did a cute little montage of suprise reactions to the news:

Another fun idea is to present the trip as a gift for Christmas, birthday or graduation. This isn’t an idea just to surprise your kids with, either! Surprising your spouse or significant other with a Disney trip is super fun and can be very romantic, too!

Here’s a cute Christmas surprise:

Again, the time lag between the big announcement and the actual trip is something to consider. If you get your kids super excited with a big presentation but the trip is a year away, you may find they lose the excitement over time. Of course, there are LOTS of fun things you can do to build excitement every month, or even every week as the trip approaches.

Option: Tell Them Right Before the Trip (Or even ON the trip!)

Some parents prefer to spring the trip on the kids right before they leave. I’ve had clients who told their kids they were going to visit Grandma, and then surprised them in the car with the news they were going to Disney WITH Grandma instead. There are a couple of fun videos on YouTube where parents woke their kids up really early in the morning with the surprise that they were leaving immediately for a trip to Disney. The kids are too sleepy to really understand the surprise at first. Pretty cute.

Here’s a pretty great one where they find out they’re going and leave immediately. The mode of transportation to the airport is part of the surprise. It’s so cute!

What Works Best for Your Family?

As you can see, there are lots of different schools of thought on when to involve your family in the planning. When you tell the family way before the trip, you might run into “it’s NEVER going to be time” frustration or planning fatigue. When you choose to surprise the family right before the trip, you avoid the months of “when are we going?” questions, but you also don’t get to do fun things to get everyone excited. You have to think about your family, the time until your trip and how you want to handle the big news.

Personally, I like to have at least some time before the trip to build excitement. I want everyone to be looking forward to the trip, and I like to have time to build some anticipation and enthusiasm. However, I also tend to mostly plan everything out, based on my knowledge of the people I’m planning for. This can help avoid any planning drama or arguing. Again, you know your family, so involve them as much (or as little) as makes sense for your group.

Build Excitement for Your Upcoming Disney Vacation

Disney Family Movie Night

One of my favorite ideas to build excitement for an upcoming Disney vacation is a Disney Family Movie Night.

Scheduling regular Disney family movie nights where you all sit down together and watch a Disney movie is a terrific way to build excitement and minimize frustration. Because you’re at home, you can plan a mid-movie intermission for bathroom breaks. Before starting the movie back up, you could talk about the first half of the movie as a family. You could talk about what characters you might see at Disney when you visit. You could ask questions about favorite moments that could maybe someday turn into an attraction.

The idea is to have quality family time, good conversation with your family AND to talk Disney!

A Disney Family Movie Night is great Disney vacation preparation, even if your family members don’t know they have a Disney vacation in their future. It’s also a terrific way to pass the time between trips, or to lessen the post vacation blues.

I’ve learned that many of the classic films that are such an integral part of the Disney parks are not that familiar to younger kids today. Many kids under 10 (or even under 20!) have never seen classics like Snow White, Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty. You may have family members that have never seen Peter Pan, the Jungle Book or Swiss Family Robinson.

Knowledge is Power

While having familiarity with all the movies and animated series featured in the Disney parks is certainly NOT necessary to enjoy the parks, having seen these movies adds an extra layer of fun to any parks (or Disney Cruise Line) visit.

For example, if you have a meal inside Cinderella Castle, you may or may not notice two colorful little mice located high up on one wall, watching Cinderella greet her guests. If you’ve never seen the movie, you might not care about the mice. However, if, like me, you’ve seen the movie, you probably LOVE Gus-Gus and Jacque, those two mice perched up on the wall watching the fun. It’s a fun little detail that adds to the magic.

If you’ve never seen Snow White, you’ll still love Seven Dwarfs Mine Train—but if you HAVE seen the movie, the details in the queue and in the scenes you pass through will be much more fun and interesting. Visiting during Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival? The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs topiaries are really cool, but if you’ve grown attached to them in the movie, you’ll rush to take pictures with them!

If you’re a Star Wars fan, walking into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is truly mind blowing. You feel like you’ve walked into one of the movies. If you’ve never seen a Star Wars movie, much of the creativity and detail won’t mean as much to you. You will probably think it’s a cool world, but it won’t pack much emotional punch or meaning for you.

The moral of the story is: If you have a few months before your trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland, consider implementing a Disney Family Movie Night. You’ll build some important family time, watch quality family entertainment, and hopefully spark some interesting discussions. Even if you’ve chosen not to let your family in on the secret (upcoming vacation), you will all have fun on Disney Family Movie Night. And as a bonus, when you do take the trip, everyone will have even MORE fun because they’ll recognize characters and themes from the films.

Build excitement for your upcoming Disney vacation Disney Movie Night — Rey and BB-8 (Photo: Lucasfilm)

Disney+ and the Public Library

There are a lot of great ways to find classic Disney movies. When I was making the list for my own family, I inventoried my DVD library, and made sure everyone knew they could borrow from Auntie Brooke. You might be surprised how many Disney movies you have in your own library, especially if you love Disney.

Many public libraries will have DVD copies of most Disney films in their collection that you can check out for free.

NetFlix still has some Disney movies in their library, although not as many as they used to. Of course, you can buy Disney movies to your heart’s content, either digitally or on DVD. Amazon, Itunes, the Movies Anywhere app, WalMart, Target and many more are great sources of new copies of Disney DVDs. Like garage sales? Keep your eyes out for used Disney DVDs to pad your collection. You might be surprised at the great deals you can find.

Disney+ is a TREASURE TROVE. I am so happy with Disney+, I can’t even stand it! There is SO MUCH here. Tons of classic movies, lots of Disney channel shows, classic Disney animated shorts and lots of new Pixar and Disney shorts. There’s also ALL the Star Wars movies and animated series, as well as the new Star Wars series, The Mandalorian, which you can ONLY watch on Disney+. (It’s FANTASTIC).

Disney Family Movie Night — The Mandalorian Photo: LucasFilm/Disney

If you’ve been seeing this cute little guy EVERYWHERE and wondered where he came from, he’s in The Mandalorian. Another great reason to watch!😉

The Mandalorian (Photo: LucasFilm/Disney)

Disney+ also includes National Geographic programming. There is just so much on that app, it’s amazing. If you don’t already subscribe, I highly recommend it! Our movie list for Disney Family Night has more than 20 movies on it, and they are ALL on Disney+. In fact, there are some movies that weren’t on my original list that I may add as bonus entries, just because they’re on Disney+ and I want my family to see them.😉

Countdown Calendar

Another terrific way to build excitement for a Disney vacation that is a ways out is a countdown calendar. These can be simple or super detailed.

You can even download monthly calendar templates from the internet, and print them out. Put a giant sticker on the day you leave for vacation, and let the kids cross off each day as you get closer and closer to the trip.

Countdown Calendar Build excitement for your upcoming Disney vacation — Calendar designed by Linda Harkness (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

We’re in the midst of planning big family trip for October. My mom made these amazing calendars on Shutterfly, using lots of pictures from our previous family trips. She gave them to us for Christmas, so everyone has a countdown calendar for the time until the trip. It’s super nostalgic and fun, especially because our two littlest vacationers don’t even remember their first trip. The pictures are proof they were there (even if they don’t REALLY believe us!) It’s so fun imagining them on this next trip. They won’t forget this one!

Mom incorporated the Disney Family Movie Night idea into the calendar, and put movie suggestions throughout the calendar, with a different movie suggested every two weeks until our trip. She also highlighted important dates for the grown ups, reminding us when to look for airfare, and when deposits are due, etc. She even included lots of Disney trivia and information about where we are staying.

It’s super fun and colorful, and it’s really fun looking at it every month. The little ones are crossing off days as we get closer, and I know the excitement will build really high when we get into that final few weeks before the trip.

Disney Food Themed Meals

These days, even a trip to the grocery store can help build excitement about your upcoming Disney vacation! There are so many Disney branded foods available in grocery stores now. There is everything from apple slices to ice cream branded with Mickey Mouse or one of his pals! Here’s a couple examples of some of the stuff you can find. You could pack Disney themed snacks in your kids’ lunches one day a week, with a sticky note reminding them how many days until vacation.

(Note: These are Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to click through my link to Amazon, I will earn a small commission on your purchase. This does NOT affect your pricing in anyway. Thank you!)

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Here’s another idea: you could incorporate some of these branded items into your meal planning. For example, as your trip approaches, you could have a special Disney Food Themed Meal night. You could have Disney brand hot dogs, Mickey Mouse tater tots and Mickey bars for dessert. If you want to avoid using the Disney branded foods, you could choose a movie, and serve foods inspired by that movie. Alternatively, you could choose a theme park, and serve foods inspired by that theme park. You could even pull recipes from one of the Disney cookbooks and serve something that you might even find at Disney on your trip! There are a lot of Disney cookbooks. Here are a few that I really like.

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You could even make foods in the SHAPE of Disney icons. Mickey shaped pancakes or cookies can be a fun addition to breakfast time or snacks. Be sure to talk about the trip during these special themed meals. Talk about some of the fun things you’ve got planned, characters you might see. You can even talk about the food you might eat, haha.

So Many Ideas!!

There are so many great ways to build excitement for your upcoming Disney vacation. In this post, we’ve focused on Disney Family Movie Night, Countdown Calendars, and Disney Food Themed Meals. This article is going to the the first in a series of three, all designed to help you and your family get ready and get excited for your trip. The next article in this series will be out in two weeks. Please comment below with your favorite way to build excitement for an upcoming family or Disney vacation.

Happy Dreaming,

Brooke

Adventures by Disney European River Cruises 2021

Do you have dreams of visiting Europe? Of sailing the Danube or the Rhine, drinking in the beautiful sites? Do you long to tour a castle or visit a cafe at the foot of the Eiffel Tower? Do you dream of Adventure? If so, an Adventures by Disney European River Cruise Vacation is exactly what you are looking for. There are 30 Adventures by Disney European river cruises scheduled in 2021, more than ever before. Extra cruises have been added in response to the popularity of these amazing, unforgettable trips!

Adventurers can choose to travel along one of four enchanting European rivers: Danube, Rhine, Rhone and Seine. Some departures are reserved exclusively for families traveling without children, including Food and Wine and Oktoberfest-themed cruises.

Adventures by Disney European River Cruises

Rhine River Cruise

This seven night cruise will take you to stunning destinations in Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Experiences include a Rhine Gorge Castle Cruise, a Heidelberg Castle Tour, an Amsterdam Canal Cruise and a Walking Tour of Cologne, among others.

There are also special Rhine River Cruise sailings, including a Food & Wine Rhine River Cruise and a D23 special fan club sailing

Danube River Cruise

Visit four countries and make eight stops on this seven night cruise through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. Experiences include a visit to Durnstein Castle, a tour of Vienna, a Hallein Salt Mine Adventure, a Danube River Bike Ride, Exploration of Budapest, among many others.

Special Danube River Cruise sailings include Oktoberfest (an adult exclusive sailing), and Christmas Markets, which will include stops in Germany, Hungary and Austria, all decorated for the holidays.

Rhone River Cruise

This seven night adventure will take you through the south of France, with visits to Lyon, Tournon, Avignon and Arles. Experiences include Biking in Lyon, Truffle Hunting at Les Pastras Farm, Tour La Cite du Chocolate, and take a Steam Train in Gorges du Doux, among others.

Seine River Cruise

Explore the essence of France on this eight day, seven night cruise along the Seine. You will visit Paris, Conflans, Les Andelys, Vernon/Giverny, Rouen, and Le Harve. Experiences include visits to Normandy’s Omaha Beach, French Castles and Ruins, Monet’s House and Gardens, among others.

All Inclusive Luxury Vacations in the Heart of Europe

AmaWaterways

All Adventures by Disney European River Cruises sail with AmaWaterways. AmaWaterways is a premier luxury river cruise line. AmaWaterways consistently receives awards for the highest rated ships in Europe. They’ve received many honors and accolades. They’ve won Town & Country River Cruise Awards for “Best Overall”, “Best for Food”, “Best Onboard Activities”, and “Best for On-Shore Activities”. Cruisers’ Choice Cruise Critic consistently rates AmaWaterways five stars, and includes them in their top 3 European River Cruise Line recommendations. Cruises’ Choice has awarded AmaWaterways their Editors Picks award for the last several years. AmaWaterways has also won Reader’s Choice Awards for “Best River Cruise Line” from AFAR and Recommend magazines.

Your cruise aboard an AmaWaterways ship will be the ultimate in luxury traveling. Your cruise will feature locally sourced wine and cuisine, a comfortable deluxe stateroom, unforgettable views, and state of the art amenities, including internet access and in-room entertainment.

All Inclusive ABD European River Cruises

Adventures by Disney European River Cruises are all inclusive. All your food, beverages, activities and gratuities are included in your cruise fare.

Some of the accommodations, services and amenities you can expect while on your Adventure:

- - Deluxe cruise accommodations in an outside stateroom
  - Services of Adventure Guides
  - Access to local experts
  - Authentic cultural experiences
  - Private sightseeing tours
  - Services of the onboard Cruise Director and staff
  - Onboard Wellness Coach on most Adult Exclusive River Cruise Sailings
  - Fine dining (breakfast, lunch and dinner) served on board ship
  - All gratuities onboard and at restaurants
  - Chef’s Table specialty restaurant featuring a tasting menu
  - Unlimited local wine, beer and soft drinks with each lunch and dinner onboard
  - Select meals off the ship for special experiences with regional cuisine
  - Daily Sip & Sail Cocktail Hour with complimentary wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks
  - Cocktail reception, special welcome dinner and Captain’s Gala Dinner
  - Bottled water in all staterooms, replenished daily
  - Onboard entertainment including a nightly piano lounge, karaoke nights, baking classes for kids and more
  - Special theme nights, including “Disney Bounding” where guests dress as casual, contemporary versions of their favorite Disney characters in regular clothes they have
  - WiFi in all staterooms and public areas

Adult Exclusive Sailings Available

While Adventures by Disney is a family vacation specialist, we understand that sometimes you want a trip away from the kids. Perhaps you are planning a honeymoon or an anniversary getaway. Maybe you want a more sophisticated vacation adventure. Disney has several sailings set aside each year as Adult Exclusive Sailings.

Contact me if you’d like more information, specific dates and itineraries for the Adult Exclusive Adventures by Disney European River Cruise Sailings. brooke@disneycastledreaming.com, or via instant message on Facebook, DisneyCastleDreaming, or via direct message on Instagram, @disneycastledreaming.

Family Fun for All Ages

Adventures by Disney vacations are truly extraordinary for adventurers of all ages. Each Adventure by Disney vacation has some activities that specific for kids of various ages. There are activities and experiences geared to teens, while others are designed for younger children. Your Disney Adventure Guides will ensure that your children have the experience of a lifetime–exactly right for them, and their age group.

While your kids are enjoying their kid-specific activities, you’ll have time for more adult-oriented exploring, activities or tours.

See what USA Today had to say about Disney’s family friendly Adventures by Disney River Cruise Vacations here. Here’s an insightful review of an Adventures by Disney Danube River cruise from Travel + Leisure.

The Disney Difference

Worldwide, the Disney name is synonymous with quality. We all know that we can count on Disney to give us an amazing experience whenever we find the Disney name.

Adventures by Disney ensures that you can count on Disney’s high standards throughout your vacation, no matter where in the world you are visiting. If you are traveling with Adventures by Disney, you are guaranteed a culturally immersive, once in a lifetime experience that will show you that all vacations are not created equal!

Adventure Guides

On every Adventures by Disney vacation, your group will be accompanied by two or more trained Disney Adventure Guides. These Adventure Guides attend to every detail of your trip, letting you immerse yourself in the adventure. Adventure Guides are storytellers, and they work to make sure the story of your vacation is unforgettable. The Adventure Guides take pictures, lead excursions, educate, and spend time with each person on the trip. They work with local experts to guide your family and ensure that you will feel a connection to the people, culture and traditions of each destination you visit.

Cultural Experiences

It’s important to Disney that if you are visiting these wonderful, historical destinations, you have the opportunity to learn about the customs, traditions and daily life of the people, places and culture you visit. Adventures by Disney vacations bring you a unique and authentic experience that only Disney can provide. Each Adventures by Disney vacation is designed to feature special excursions or activities that enhance your experience and ensure that you leave a place truly understanding more about the culture you have visited. Adventures by Disney vacations include things you won’t necessarily find in the typical guidebook–but your experience will be more special and memorable as a result.

Insider Access

The Disney name, in addition to carrying a reputation of excellence in customer service and dedication to creativity and detail, also carries a lot of clout. That clout helps Adventures by Disney provide access to extraordinary opportunities that aren’t available to the general public. Adventures by Disney give you a backstage pass to the world!

Family Fun

Each Adventures by Disney trip offers unique itinerary options. There are more sophisticated experiences designed for adults, and special Junior Adventurer activities tailored to kids. You will discover lots of special opportunities to create and share unforgettable memories you will all cherish forever.

Book Early and Save

Adventures by Disney European River Cruises for 2021 just opened up for booking this week. Book early and save up to $750 per person on select 2021 river cruise vacations when you book by March 27, 2020. Contact me for more information!

Adventures by Disney: Destinations Around the World

Adventures by Disney offers more than thirty different adventures across six continents. You can explore the wonders of Japan, Greece, Peru and many other countries with Adventures by Disney. There are adventures in Montana, New York, Yellowstone and Southern California. There are adventures in Australia and Africa, and throughout Europe. Most adventures by Disney vacations are 7-9 nights in length. There are a few Adventures by Disney Escape vacations, which are 2-4 nights in length, and give you a brief taste of an adventure. These Escapes are often available as add ons to other Disney or Adventures by Disney vacations. For example, there are several European Escapes that can be added on to an Adventurers by Disney European River Cruise vacation, further extending and enhancing your vacation.

If you would like information about Adventures by Disney destinations, please email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.

Happy dreaming!

Brooke

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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Disney Layoffs

Orlando Sentinel’s Scott Maxwell Weighs In

Abigail Disney Chastises Disney

October Hours

Crowd Levels

Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa

Aulani Flexible Cancellation Policy

Aulani Discounts

Walt Disney World Vacation Package Discounts

Southern State Disney Discounts

Florida Resident Discounts

runDisney Virtual Races

Mom/Daughter Challenge

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The runDisney Experience

The Fire is Lit

Our First runDisney Experience

Advantages of a runDisney Event

Welcoming to Walkers AND Runners

Courtesy and Race Ettiquette

Weight Loss on Vacation?

Entertainment and Photo Opps

It’s All About the Bling Baby

DisAdvantages of a runDisney Event

Vacation Expenses

Crowds

Wearing Out Your Legs

The runDisney Experience

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Disney Parks News Update

Florida moves to Phase 3

Disney Lays Off 28,000 Employees

Fireworks Testing

Magic Kingdom Attraction Closures

Polynesian Villages Resort Refurbishment

The Grand Floridian Orchestra

Entertainment Coming to Hollywood Studios

Pop Up Motorcades at Hollywood Studios