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Update for October 27 – November 2, 2014
Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Resort Events | Refurbishments and Attraction Closures | Discounts and Promotions
News and Views
Sorcerer Hat to be removed from Disney's Hollywood Studios | The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow permanently closes November 6 | Magic Kingdom debuts new Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party | Disney upgrades Glow with the Show to the Made with Magic show |Haunt Your Disney Side Contest asks for pumpkin carving inspiration | MousePlanet Meet-Ups November 8 and 9 | Views from Around "the World" | Quick takes | Discussion of the Week | Crowd update
Sorcerer Hat to be removed from Disney's Hollywood Studios
After much speculation and even a report in last week's update, Disney confirmed that the Sorcerer Hat in Disney's Hollywood Studios will be removed in 2015, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
The Sentinel article states that Disney decided to "re-imagine" the area in front of the Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard and remove the 122-ft. hat that has stood as the park's icon since 2001. Online reaction splits down the middle, as many visitors don't remember Disney's Hollywood Studios without the Sorcerer Hat, while others look forward to seeing Hollywood Boulevard and the Chinese Theater return to the way they appeared when the park opened in 1989.
Disney did not release an exact time frame for the removal, nor did officials outline what may be next for the area where the hat now stands.
The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow permanently closes November 6
Another Disney's Hollywood Studios attraction comes to an end as The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow closes permanently on November 6.
Multiple sources, including Rikki Niblett from our sponsor TouringPlans.com, say Disney has not announced what will be taking the attraction's place.
The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow opened in December 2012 as a replacement for Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian.
Magic Kingdom debuts new Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party
Disney Parks Blog reported the Magic Kingdom introduced the Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party on October 24 to excited park visitors.
The show includes new, original music such as "Party Up!" which plays as the parade moves up Main Street U.S.A. toward Cinderella Castle. Classic characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy pop up from giant gift boxes to get the party really started.
Other new street party features includes inviting visitors to vote on the music playlist in real time for the next song, as well as integrating social media such as Instagram and Twitter photos posted by party visitors that could be used during the party's big finale.
The Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party makes its way through Main Street U.S.A. multiple times each day, so check a times guide during your visit to catch the Magic Kingdom's latest live show.
Disney upgrades Glow with the Show to the Made with Magic show
Disney Parks prepares to take its Glow with the Show technology and continue to enhance it for a multi-sensory experience for park visitors now known as Made with Magic.
The new Made with Magic shows will continue to have Mickey Mouse ear hats which change color to the music and/or fireworks across the Walt Disney World (such as: Wishes at the Magic Kingdom or Epcot's Illuminations: Reflections of Earth). In addition, new related merchandise will appear on the shelves of many Walt Disney World resorts. New additions include a Minnie Mouse head band, a Mickey Mouse glove, and a magical wand.
The new items will cost $25 each and debut at Walt Disney World starting in November 2014.
Haunt Your Disney Side Contest asks for pumpkin carving inspiration
Last week, we reported on the new Haunt Your Disney Side Contest, where one lucky person would win the grand prize of a private Haunted Mansion Party in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, followed by an overnight stay in Cinderella Castle.
For week three of the contest, Disney invites the public to submit their best idea for jack-o-lantern designs and carving tips. Check out the contest video on the Disney Parks Blog for some inspiration!
The Haunt Your Disney Side Contest has a new theme each Monday and runs through November 4, 2014. For more information on the contest and how to enter, read the official rules.
MousePlanet Meet-Ups November 8 and 9
You're invited to join MousePlanet staff and readers at two meet-ups the weekend of November 8 and 9. The first meet-up is for those running Disney's Wine & Dine Half Marathon. Join us for our pre-race group photo meet-up at the starting area main stage area at 8:45 p.m. before the race on November 8. The timing is such that it should be after the last resort buses arrive, but before the announcers start asking runners to move toward the starting corrals at 9:00.
Look for racers in official Team MousePlanet gear, take a few moments to hang out with fellow MousePlanet staffers and fans, and be a part of our group photo. MousePlanet staff expected to participate include Lorree Tachell, Lani Teshima, and Mark Goldhaber (yes, he's actually running a half marathon!).
Show your team spirit by wearing Team MousePlanet gear! Whether it's an official tech shirt, running cap or visor, look spiffy and show the world that you're a healthy MousePlanet fan. Order today so you get yours in time to wear on race day! And don't forget to join us on the Team MousePlanet forum and let us know you're racing, then show up to be part of our official group photo!
The next day, we'll be having a “Bring Your Bling” meet-up at noon at Tomorrowland Terrace in Magic Kingdom Park. We don't dare hold the meet earlier, as those who leave the race after-party at 4 a.m. will need their beauty sleep. If you're not a runner, don't worry! The meet is open to everyone! We're just theming it to the race so those who run have a chance to share their stories and celebrate together.
Look for us on the lower level of Tomorrowland Terrace (where we can get Cinderella Castle in the background of a group photo) from noon to 1:00 p.m.
We hope to see you at one or both meet-ups!
Views from Around "the World"
As October winds down, change continues as a major theme around Walt Disney World. This week, our weekly photo tour stops at Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom to catch up on changes there.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney's Animal Kingdom
This additional counter service area is coming to the Flame Tree Barbecue. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
QuickTakes
...Gemma and Draco, the Cotton-top Tamarins at Disney's Animal Kingdom, continue to show off for park visitors in their new habitat. It's only been a couple of weeks in their new home, but they seem to have made themselves right at home.
...Big Hero 6 merchandise made its debut in the theme parks as Disney prepares for its November 7 opening. Among the most popular items include new t-shirts, iPhone cases, action figures and more.
...Caitlin Busscher and Nathaniel Palma became the 2015-2016 Disney Ambassador team for Walt Disney World. Their responsibilities include representing the park's nearly 70,000 employees and sharing Disney magic with the community.
Discussion of the Week
MousePad Discussion Forum member Drince88 posted this week's discussion topic:
In English - Has anyone upgraded from a Magic Your Way ticket to an Annual Pass or a 'regular' Annual Pass to a Premier Annual Pass (DL and WDW) and then had any issues (or not) with their FP+ reservations for the rest of the trip?
My sister and I are going in January and will be getting Premier passes, but you can only get those on site, but to make FP+ reservations, you need your admission media. So we were going to get just get regular AP vouchers and upgrade them, but I don't want to mess up our FP+. But then I thought about maybe getting MYW tickets from Undercover tourist. I know DL will only give you credit for what you paid, but in the past WDW has given you 'current ticket price' value if you've used it one day - and even if they only give us what we paid, we're not going to be out money. But again, don't want to mess up FP+ AND would definitely want to upgrade from MYW to AP early in the trip so we can get the Tables in Wonderland card.
So any history to share with upgrading early in a trip and impact on FP+?
Head over to the MousePad forum and share your upgrade experience!
The MousePlanet Newsletter is here!
The newsletter contains a recap of the week's articles (in case you miss a day), news that may have developed since the weekly Updates were published, and tips about what's happening at the Disney theme parks for the coming weekend. We'll also include a fun MouseAdventure bonus, such as an Eye Spy or a trivia question. To subscribe to our free newsletter, just enter your e-mail in the box below.
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Seeking ShutterbugsAre you a frequent visitor to the WDW theme parks? Do you love taking and sharing photos of the lastest happenings around the World? Would you like to be paid for your work? MousePlanet is seeking Orlando-based photographers to share their theme park observations and photos with our readers. If you're an excellent photographer with strong communication skills, please contact us—we'd love to hear from you! |
Crowd Forecast
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Join Our Networks
MousePlanet
Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. Email Stephanie here.
Talk about these stories and more on our Walt Disney World discussion forum here.
Resort Events
2014
- Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party – October 28, 30, 31.
- Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic – October 31 and November 1. Tickets and packages now on sale.
- Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 7–8.
- Epcot International Food and Wine Festival – through November 10.
- Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party – November 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, 30; December 2,4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19
- Destination D: Attraction Rewind – November 22–23. The event was originally announced for July 26–27, but was rescheduled.
- Richard Petty's Junior Ride-Along Experience – at the Richard Petty's Driving Experience
2015
- Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 7–11, 2015.
- Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 19–22, 2015.
runDisney events
If you participate in (or are considering signing up for) runDisney events, visit our Team MousePlanet forum on the MousePad discussion board, where you can join our community of health-minded readers and staff.
2014
- Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 7–8.
2015
- Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 7–11, 2015. Most events sold out.
- Disney Castaway Cay Challenge – January 12, 2015 – sailing on the Disney Dream.
- Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 19–22, 2015. All races are sold out, but some associated events are still available.
- Expedition Everest – May 1–2, 2015. Registration opens December 16, 2014
- Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 6–7. Registration opens March 17, 2015.
2016
- Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 6–10, 2016. Registration opens April 28, 2015.
- Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 18–21, 2016. Registration opens July 14, 2015.
For current information on registration dates and capacity, see Lorree Tachell's runDisney Race Capacity Updates in the Team MousePlanet forum on our MousePad discussion board.
Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Magic Kingdom
- Walt Disney World Railroad Fantasyland Station – closed through November 8 for refurbishment.
- Walt Disney World Railroad Frontierland Station – closed through November 8 for refurbishment.
- Walt Disney World Railroad Main Street U.S.A. Station – closed through November 8 for refurbishment
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin – closed November 10–21 for refurbishment
- The Haunted Mansion – closed December 1–19 for refurbishment
- Splash Mountain – closed January 4–30, 2015
- Cinderella's Royal Table – closed January 5 through March 6, 2015 for refurbishment.
- Liberty Square Riverboat – closed January 23–27, 2015 for refurbishment
- Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid – closed February 2 through March 6, 2015 for refurbishment.
- Harmony Barber Shop – closed February 2 through March 30, 2015 (dates subject to change).
Disney's Hollywood Studios
- The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow – closes permanently on November 7, 2014
- Fantasmic! – closed November 19–21 for refurbishment
Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Affection Section – closed October 7–November 10 for refurbishment
- Sunrise Safari (for DVC members only) – closed permanently on October 19, 2014
- Pangani Forest Exploration Trail – closed through November 25 for refurbishment
- Kali River Rapids – closed January 20 through February 4, 2105
Resorts
As previously reported by MousePlanet, some refrigerators in non-Disney Vacation Club rooms at Walt Disney World are being replaced due to a product defect. All Walt Disney World Resort rooms—with the exception of DVC Villas, the family suites at the Art of Animation and All-Star Movie resorts, and the cabins at Fort Wilderness—are impacted. Disney says "the schedule for replacing the refrigerators at these Resorts is expected to last several months."
In the interim, if you have a reservation at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel and need a refrigerator for medical reasons, we recommend contacting your resort directly to inquire about availability during your trip. The hotel should be able to arrange for one if your room does not yet have a new refrigerator, but supplies may be limited while they work to replace all of the malfunctioning units.
- All Star Music Resort – refurbishment of its Intermission Food Court is scheduled for reopening on December 21, according to our sponsor TouringPlans.com.
- Polynesian – Never Land Club Children's Activity Center closed for refurbishment through January 1, 2015.
- Polynesian – refurbishment of the lobby ongoing.
- Wilderness Lodge – refurbishment of its Silver Creek Springs Pool through late November 2014.
Water Parks
- Typhoon Lagoon – the entire park closed October 26 through December 20 for refurbishment.
- Blizzard Beach – the the entire park closed January 4, 2015 through March 3, 2015.
Elsewhere
- Disney Osprey Ridge Golf Course – permanently closed.
- Downtown Disney Lots H, I, J, and K (in Westside area) closed until further notice for Disney Springs construction.
- Downtown Disney Bridge 4 and restrooms on Pleasure Island are temporarily closed for ongoing construction work.
- Cirque du Soleil La Nouba – performs Tuesdays through Saturdays.
Current Discounts & Promotions
Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices, check the most recent Walt Disney World Resort Update. For your convenience, we have grouped the discount offers based on the intended audience. Check out the category that best matches you, and pick the offer that works best for you. And keep those tips coming—let us know if you find a better or different offer, so we can share it with other readers!
Discounts for Everyone |
2014 Free Dining offer for general public Sue from Small World Vacations reports the general public can book Stay/Play/Dine Discounts through December 29, 2014. Offer details: Stay / Play / Dine Discounted Magic Your Way Packages
Room Only Discount – Tickets and Dining Can be Added
Specific discounts:
Call your travel agent, contact Small World Vacations, or call Walt Disney Travel at (407) 939-7741 to book these offers. Memory Maker pre-arrival discount Disney's PhotoPass service provides a discount on Disney Memory Maker pre-arrival packages. For $149 plus tax, Walt Disney World guests can digitally download any photos associated with their Memory Maker account, including photos taken on attractions. The advanced purchase price is a $50 savings. Applicable taxes are charged to all orders. Special offer only available from this link, and must be made more than three days prior to arrival at the Walt Disney World Resort. All sales are final, and not eligible for an exchange or refund. |
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Discounts for Annual Passholders |
Rates starting at $79 per night on select dates this fall Disney released new fall discounts for annual passholders for the following travel dates: Now through November 25, and November 29 through December 23, 2014. Rates begin at $79 for value resorts (Sunday through Thursday stays) and go up from there. Book through December 20, 2014. Sample rates:
Advance reservations required. No group rates or other discounts apply. Length of stay requirements
Discounts only applied to travel dates that are valid offer travel dates Additional per adult charges may apply if more than two adults per room Number of rooms allocated for this discount is limited. Offer excludes:
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Discounts for Disney Rewards VISA & Debit Card Holders |
2014 Free Dining Offer for Disney Rewards VISA & Debit Card Holders Sue from Small World Vacations reports the Disney Rewards VISA and Debit Card Holders can now get a free dining discount when booking a qualifying Walt Disney World vacation package. Offer details: 2014 Vacation Dates
Free Quick Service Plan
Free Table Service Dining Plan
Offer Restrictions
Room and ticket discount for travel dates from February 24 through June 15 No discounts available March 6–14 and April 13–19. Buy a minimum four day ticket and get a day free. Room discounts include:
20 percent off select guided tours Disney Visa cardholders receive 20 percent off the non-discounted price of selected guided tours for up to 10 people. The cardholder must participate in the tour, and pay with a Disney's Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card. Tours included:
10 percent off select restaurants Disney Visa cardholders receive 10 percent off the check when you pay with a Disney's Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card (be sure to request the discount). Discount excludes alcohol.
10 percent off merchandise Disney Visa cardholders receive 10 percent off at participating Disney-owned retail location when you spend a minimum of $50 and pay with a Disney's Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card (be sure to request the discount). Read all of the restrictions on the Disney Visa website. Free 5" x 7" character photo at a private meet and greet location at Epcot Present your Disney's Premier Visa Card or Disney Rewards Visa Card for access to a private character meet and greet at Epcot for the cardholder and up to five guests. The event is hosted daily from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. inside Innoventions West at Epcot. You'll receive one free 5" x 7" character photo per day. |
Discounts for Florida Residents |
None at this time. |
Discounts for U.K. Residents |
2014 Free Dining offer for U.K. residents 2014 Free Dining offers for U.K. residents have been released. From the information posted on the Virgin Holidays website, it appears the 2014 program offers free Quick Service Dining Plan plan when booking at a Moderate resort, and free Dining Plan when booking at Deluxe resorts, Old Key West or Saratoga Springs. There are also offers for a free $200 Disney Gift Card and/or a 14-day ticket for the price of a seven-day ticket depending on travel dates. These particular offers are valid for U.K. residents only. |
Discounts for Canada Residents |
Fall 2014 Free Dining offer for Canada residents Offer details: Free Quick Service Plan
Free Table Service Dining Plan for moderate resorts
Free Table Service Dining Plan for deluxe resorts
Free Table Service Dining Plan for deluxe villa resorts
Offer Restrictions
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Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. Email Stephanie here.
Comments
The Hat is going?!?! Man, that totally stinks! I guess enough whiners on these boards got their way. What a shame. I don't even consider it a trip until I'm walking into DHS and see that Hat. It's so Disney! When I got back from my first trip to WDW, that Hat was all I wanted to get a good picture of. The one shot we took of it (back in the days of film) wasn't that good. There were hardly any good pics on the internet back then as digital hadn't taken off yet. When we went back in 2004, the first park we hit MGM (remember!) and took a photo in front of the hat.
With the Hat going, and with my favorite act World Showcase Players gone, I'm finding less reasons to fly back to Orlando.
Even with the hat gone (good riddance!) I don't think we're guaranteed to get an unobstructed view of the Chinese Theatre from the entrance to Hollywood Blvd as when the park first opened in 1989. I hope so but I'm skeptical.
Maybe I'm in the "not against the Hat" camp since I've never seen it otherwise, but I'm sorry to see it go too.
To me (and presumable to the WD company considering how much merchandise it is on) the Hat is the icon of DHS. What will replace it as "the thing" from DHS? Each park has one.
I'm not sure the Earful Tower in the back is up to the part, especially since it's not even obvious (nor in the central area of the park) and less noticeable now that the Backlot tour is closed.
Maybe a 150' tall Darth Vader will replace it as the conversion to Star Wars land commences. (half kidding!)
Yeah, that's not gonna happen. They're "re-imagining" the plaza, which means something new will be going in there. While there aren't any good rumors as to what it will be, it is rumored that there will be SOMETHING new going where the hat currently is.
As for the hat going away, that isn't happening, either. It's moving. Again, nothing definitive, but it's rumored that it'll move out to the area outside the main entrance, where there's now a circular planter (where the Christmas tree goes each year).
The hat removal news is the best news I've had coming out of WDW in years. Hooray! It will be gone by the time I'm back next Fall
This is what I want to hear. I HATE that the Hat is going away and that it's not in my favorite picture space. But if they at least move it, that would be nice.
I also find interesting that the center court is being re-imagined. All these folks that have been crying about the Hat for the last decade just so they can get the Mann back....looks like they lose just like me. Misery loves company, so welcome aboard! If this is actually the case....