Walt Disney World Resort Update for February 7-13, 2017

by Alan S. Dalinka, staff writer
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Walt Disney World Resort Update for February 7–13, 2017

[Writer's note: This week, I introduce another new section entitled "Photography Fun" where, from time to time, I feature a photography tip for visiting Walt Disney World Resort or wherever your cameras may be visiting. Now, on with the update!]

Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Resort Events | RunDisney Events | Refurbishments and Attraction Closures | Discounts and Promotions


News and Views

Magic Kingdom Celebrates Another Super Bowl Winner With a Parade | Garden Rocks Concerts & Dining Packages for the 2017 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Announced | New "Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour" Offered at Magic Kingdom | New Character Breakfast Coming to Trattoria al Forno at Disney's BoardWalk | Photography Fun | Views around the World | One Passholder's Tip | This and That | Crowd Forecast

Magic Kingdom Celebrates Another Super Bowl Winner With a Parade

Just over a half a day after scoring the winning touchdown in the first ever Super Bowl overtime period and securing the New England Patriots' come-from-behind victory, 34 to 28, over the Atlanta Falcons, 25-year-old running back James White, a native of Florida, was saluted with a "Going to Disney World" celebration parade down Magic Kingdom's Main Street U.S.A. on Monday, February 6. White rode with Football Mickey Mouse high atop a float, along with Goofy, Minnie, and referees Chip 'n' Dale. More than a few Patriots fans were on hand to cheer along the parade route.

Confetti rains down upon James White of the victorious New England Patriots and his Disney friends celebrating Super Bowl LI. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The Super Bowl LI Celebration Parade at Magic Kingdom includes Football Mickey, Football Goofy, and Cheerleader Minnie along with James White of the New England Patriots. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Referees Chip 'n' Dale also participate in The Super Bowl LI Celebration Parade. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The Disney tradition of saluting heroes from sports and other endeavors at Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California dates back to 1987. Monday was the fourth time a member of the Patriots participated in a Super Bowl celebration parade at a Disney Park—more than any other team in the National Football League.

You can watch a replay of the parade on our Periscope page.

After the parade, White met with members of the media, participated in a number of satellite interviews, and posed for photos with Mickey and Minnie in front of Cinderella Castle. He also rode a few rides and met some fans around the Park before and after the parade.

James White chats with the local press after the Super Bowl LI Celebration Parade. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

James White is interviewed for the national press via satellite from Magic Kingdom's Central Plaza. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

James White poses with Mickey and Minnie while celebrating his team's Super Bowl LI victory. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

New England residents can also celebrate the championship with the "I'm off to the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort!" deal, which includes a free night and complimentary automatic room upgrade at the Epcot-area resort when booking two nights at the standard price before February 28, 2017, for stays through January 31, 2018. Offer is not valid December 22–31, 2017. For additional information, or to make reservations, call (800) 227-1500 and mention your home state. Details of the offer are also available online. Guests must have valid appropriate state identification (valid New England states include Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut) to present upon check-in. The deal is based on availability and does not include taxes, resort services fee, and gratuities, nor is it valid with any other special offers, promotions, or for existing reservations or groups.

Garden Rocks Concerts & Dining Packages for the 2017 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Announced

With the March 1 start of the 2017 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival rapidly approaching, the Garden Rocks Concert Series lineup and the associated Dining Packages that include reserved seating on select dates have been announced. As always, the entertainment is subject to change or cancellation (for example, note below that Dennis DeYoung, who cancelled two of his three Food & Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concert Series performance dates and appeared but did not sing on his third due to a reported illness, has now scheduled his Epcot return during the Garden Rocks Concert Series).

  • Jon Secada: March 3 & 4
  • Dennis DeYoung featuring the music of STYX: March 5 & 6
  • The Pointer Sisters: March 10 to 13
  • Simple Plan – NEW: March 17 & 18
  • Plain White T's: March 19 & 20
  • Night Ranger: March 24 to 27
  • Little River Band: March 31 to April 3
  • Blood, Sweat and Tears featuring Bo Bice: April 7 to 10
  • Gin Blossoms: April 14 to 17
  • The Orchestra starring former members of ELO: April 21 to 24
  • Exposé – NEW: April 28 & 29
  • Berlin featuring Terri Nunn – NEW: April 30 & May 1
  • STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas: May 5 to 8
  • The Guess Who: May 12 to 15
  • Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone: May 19 to 22
  • The Spinners: May 26 to 29

Garden Rocks concert performances are held each Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of the Festival. Show times are at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. each night. Concerts are included with regular park admission to Epcot.

As the start of this year's Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival approaches, we expect this lawn will be replaced by a flower garden. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Dining Packages are available at specific Epcot restaurants on these dates:

  • March 3-6, 10-13, 24-27, 31
  • April 1-3, 7-10, 14-17, 21-24
  • May 5-8, 19-22

Prices for Breakfast Packages start at $39 plus tax (for adults) and $23 plus tax (for children, ages 3-9). Prices for Lunch Packages start at $39 plus tax (for adults) and $15.50 plus tax (for children, ages 3-9). Prices for Dinner Packages start at $53 plus tax (for adults) and $17.50 plus tax (for children, ages 3-9).

To book a dining package, call (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463. Advance reservations are highly recommended, as these events fill up quickly.

Signs of the upcoming Flower & Garden Festival are appearing around Epcot. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Additional information about this year's Flower & Garden Festival is available at epcotinspring.com.

New "Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour" Offered at Magic Kingdom

Last week, Disney Parks Blog announced Magic Kingdom's introduction of a new four-hour Disney VIP Tour Guide-led park tour highlighting "quintessential Magic Kingdom Park experiences and attractions" named The Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour. The tour includes "up to 10 of the most beloved Magic Kingdom Park attractions, including everything from Adventureland must-dos Pirates of the Caribbean and the Jungle Cruise to Fantasyland favorites such as Under the Sea–Journey of the Little Mermaid, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, 'it's a small world,' Peter Pan's Flight, and more attractions," none of which have height restrictions. The tour also includes an opportunity to meet Mickey Mouse.

For the time-limited visitor, although it does not include the Magic Kingdom's "Mountains," you still might consider this VIP Tour as a "FastPas$ for the Classics in Four Hours." Because the attractions included in this tour have no height restrictions, it is intended for "kids of all ages" as, what Disney calls, a "perfect introduction to the most Magical Place on Earth." The Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour is $199/person plus tax; park admission is required and not included in the price. It is offered Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, and is subject to availability. Call (407) 560-4033 to book your tour or click here to learn more.

New Character Breakfast Coming to Trattoria al Forno at Disney's BoardWalk

"Adventurous royal couples" will headline a new character dining experience debuting this spring at Disney's BoardWalk at Trattoria al Forno. Few specifics have been announced so far other than that it will feature characters from favorite Disney stories like Tangled or The Little Mermaid. We will keep a look out for more details, including the opening date, when you can make reservations, and menu offerings, and will report those details in a future Update.

Photography Fun

This new occasional section of the Update provides our MousePlanet readers with a tip for taking fun photographs while visiting Walt Disney World or other places their cameras visit. Unless otherwise stated, the tips are mine alone, and they are neither intended as endorsements of any particular products, nor are they sponsored. As always, your mileage may vary.

Photography Fun: Tip 1
Photo filters may be found in all sorts of places.

Photos taken within some smartphone apps, may be saved to your "camera roll" and used elsewhere. Photos by Alan S. Dalinka via Facebook's Messenger App for iOS.

Since at MousePlanet, we often post photos on our Facebook page and, increasingly, we use Facebook's Messenger App to communicate with one another, it seemed appropriate to highlight some of the photo filters that appeared in recent updates of Messenger's iOS version that are not also available within Facebook itself or using an iOS camera (absent hunting for another provider's App). The various effects shown in the photos above were created using filters, overlays, and stickers in the Messenger App which (at least in the current iOS version of the App) can only be accessed while composing a new message to a Facebook friend. Interestingly, photos taken here can be saved to your camera roll without also sending them to whichever friend whose conversation you chose. Of course, you can also choose to send the photo.

The "Tip" here is that before you visit your photo destination—like a Walt Disney World Park or Resort—search through your existing apps to see whether there are some hidden effects you might like to try. While some filters and effects can be applied to photos after they are taken, all but the "Go Team" sticker in the photos above had to be applied before pressing the shutter. Know before you go and you will be more likely to create the photo memories you would like to keep.

Views Around the World

Some of my walks this week included visits to Disney's Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Plenty of photos are here to view. Like last week, as you scroll through, you will again have ample opportunities to see construction cranes over Disney's Hollywood Studios from multiple angles. And, by the way, I often "hide" additional "tips" in the captions.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

The "floating mountains" of Pandora – The World of AVATAR appear ready to greet guests at the main gates of Disney's Animal Kingdom. Although passholders may use any open entry TouchPoint to enter the parks, the new Passholder-only lines were the longest at all of the parks I visited this week. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.


Macaws are fed by their handlers at a perch in front of the Tree of Life before filling the sky to fly back to their backstage home. Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

A "smiling" Nile crocodile at Kilimanjaro Safaris is merely regulating the temperature of its cold-blooded body through its open mouth. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Animals have the right of way at Kilimanjaro Safaris. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The "baby" giraffe on the savannah at Kilimanjaro Safaris stands over six feet tall. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The female elephants stand guard over the napping elephant calf, Stella, at Kilimanjaro Safaris. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

On the rocks on Kilimanjaro Safaris the lions often sleep all day. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Before the thrills of the descent, the main lift hill of Expedition Everest provides stunning views of Walt Disney World and the surrounding area. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Expedition Everest's lift hill provides a view toward the "floating mountains" of Pandora – The World of AVATAR. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

There are ways to bring the taste of Flame Tree BBQ home with bottled sauce and spice rub, available for $8.95/each. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

From the tramway and parking lot at Disney's Animal Kingdom you can see the new berm being built around Pandora – The World of AVATAR next to the Resort Bus stop. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Epcot

When assigned to park at the eastern end of Epcot's parking lot, enjoy the view of a monorail beginning its circle tour of Future World as you walk to the park's gates. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Even when Donald is not greeting guests in his photo area at the Epcot pavilion, this Festival artwork is on display. The Epcot International Festival of the Arts celebrates its penultimate weekend this Friday through Monday. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The newest version of the Characters in Flight balloon at Disney Springs fits with the Frozen Ever After theme of Epcot's Norway pavilion. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

For improved viewing over the heads of your fellow guests at the Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away show, consider standing as far away from the stage as your eyesight permits. This slightly zoomed-in photo was taken at my eye level from between the two projection towers where the plaza meets Hollywood Boulevard. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

A cast member stands between the projection towers mentioned in the prior caption taking what he calls (on his amplified portable speaker) the "Hollywood Studios Family Photo" which, oddly, is not being done by a Disney PhotoPass photographer. If you spot me in your "Family Photo" taking your photo, let us know in the Comments. Apparently, this cast member has been creating this photo moment from time to time over the past several months. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Stormtroopers of The First Order keep watchful eyes on a guest (me) sitting on a park bench near The Chinese Theater. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

A construction crane towers over the Pixar Studios area, home of Toy Story Mania and character meeting places. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

With trees now removed from the former end of New York Street, a new view of the Star Tours exit gift shop is opened up from the SciFi Dine-In Restaurant. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

A new burlap-covered fence is all that stands at the former end of New York Street as construction of the future Star Wars and Toy Story lands moves forward. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The new burlap-covered fence further narrows the path between Star Tours and the Muppets Courtyard. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Past the burlap-covered fence, entering Muppets Courtyard, the balloon atop Muppet*Vision 3D Theater's clock tower has been removed. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

As construction of the new lands progresses beyond Muppet*Vision 3D Theater, Miss Piggy stands idle. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

In the opposite direction, with the trees removed, it is now possible to see all the way to Tower of Terror at the end of Sunset Boulevard from Muppets Courtyard. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

From the upper seating area of PizzeRizzo in Muppets Courtyard, the increasingly larger hole can be seen where Streets of America previously stood. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Behind Muppet*Vision 3D Theater, the main parking lot entrance toll plaza can now be seen next to one of the construction cranes. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Lots of Muppets merchandise is available for sale in the shop across from the exit to Muppet*Vision 3D (and, yes, this is as political as we try to be at MousePlanet). Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Muppets merchandise includes many of your favorite Muppets characters. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

And, of course, if you want a Kermit the Frog t-shirt, that can be found here too. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Even if you are not shopping, exploring the Muppets gift shop yields lots of interesting details. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Bellhop Stitch was on duty this weekend at the Disney PhotoPass desk in The Hollywood Tower Hotel (a/k/a Tower of Terror). Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Construction is underway between the walkway next to the tramway and the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular theater. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Construction continues in the Minnie section of the parking lot. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

From the Minnie section of the parking lot, the construction cranes rise from within sections of the park and the surrounding roads. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

One Passholder's Tip

As I introduced a couple weeks ago, this section of the Update provides our MousePlanet readers with the benefit of my years of experience as a longtime Walt Disney World Four Parks Annual Passholder, and lots of personal trial and errors—one (hopefully weekly) tip at a time. No product endorsements are intended in this week's Tip.

One Passholder's Tip: Week 3
Wear the right socks for your feet!

Know which socks work best for your feet. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

They're your feet. If you are not used to walking several miles a day and you are not planning to spend your visit to Walt Disney World in a stroller, wheelchair, ECV, or a parent's arms (or on their shoulders), you ought to make sure that the socks you wear are not likely to cause painful blisters. Sure, shoes make a big difference here too, but lots of folks remind you to wear comfortable shoes. My years of trials and errors on this front—and, believe me when I say that before I moved to Central Florida, I made lots of Walt Disney World vacation errors in this regard resulting in lots of painful blisters—taught me to focus on finding the right socks for my feet.

Blisters result from friction. For me, that tended to occur on the balls of my feet or on my heels when loose socks rubbed there repeatedly while walking the miles and miles of a typical park day. My solution, after trying lots of different socks, was to make sure those I wear for park visits (or my daily neighborhood walks for that matter) fit right, have as few seams against my skin as possible and are completely hole-free. Like this week's "Photography Fun" Tip, with your socks: know what is best for you before you go. And it's really true here: your mileage will vary.

Don't keep it to yourself!
Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments.

This and That

…MousePlanet's Donald and Bonnie Fink provided coverage of the preview of the new Paddlefish restaurant which opened Saturday, February 4. Levy Restaurants, the long-time operator of the the site's former Fulton's Crab House, operates the new restaurant under the continued direction of Executive Chef Mark Boor.

The transformation of the Empress Lilly to Fulton's Crab House to Paddlefish is now complete. Serving a mostly new seafood menu, this long standing replica of a paddle wheeler now resembles a modern luxury yacht. Photo by Donald Fink.

Dining areas of Paddlefish feature expansive views of Lake Buena Vista, like this view from the deck three forward dining room. Photo by Bonnie Fink.

… Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Hotel & Spa was awarded its 17th consecutive AAA Five-Diamond rating. It is one of only 47 restaurants in the United States to be so honored; one of only three Five Diamond restaurants in Florida and the only one located in Central Florida. You can read more about it at Disney Parks Blog. Please share your experiences dining there with us in the Comments.

…More Disney Parks Moms Panel Awards 2017 were announced this week on Disney Parks Blog. Highlights include:

  • Favorite Restaurant: 'Ohana at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
  • Favorite "Small" Magic: Hunting for Hidden Mickeys
  • Favorite Attraction for Preschoolers: "it's a small world"
  • Favorite Resort: Disney's Wilderness Lodge
  • Favorite Seasonal Event: Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom

…As I personally noticed weeks ago, and as Disney Parks Blog reported on Friday, Disney Vacation Club members that have affiliated their My Disney Experience account with their membership will see their MagicBand now triggers a new purple-to-green color sequence at TouchPoints at the parks, water parks, DisneyQuest, and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

…Also for Disney Vacation Club Members and their guests, the Member Lounge at Epcot will host an intimate gathering with one of Disney's most beloved artists for one special evening of the Epcot International Festival of the Arts. Presented after the lounge has concluded its regular operating day, this exclusive dessert party with Disney artist Don "Ducky" Williams is scheduled to take place on February 18 from 7:45-8:45 p.m. for $30/person. Advance purchase is required and, given its limited capacity of 50 guests, the event was already sold out before publication of this Update and the event's registration page now says "Online registration is no longer available for this event."

…While we are talking about DVC Member events, in addition to the upcoming sold out "Moonlight Magic at Magic Kingdom Park" after hours parties coming up Friday, February 24, and Friday, March 3, a few more "Moonlight Magic" events for qualified* DVC Members and their guests now appear on the 2017 calendar as well:

  • Disney's Animal Kingdom Park: Wednesday, September 6 & Wednesday, September 13
  • Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park: Thursday, June 22; Wednesday, June 28; Wednesday, July 5; & Thursday, July 13
  • Epcot: Monday, December 4 & Monday, December 11

*All events require free reservations and do not welcome walk-ins. So far, none of these events are open for registration. DVC Members are encouraged to log in to the DVC Members Website to check for online booking details. In the past, some DVC Member events have given reservations preference to Members staying at DVC Resorts at Walt Disney World before opening them to the full Membership. Many DVC Member events exclude Members who purchased their points at resale after a specific date rather than directly from Disney, so be sure to read all of the relevant details.

…Elsewhere in Central Florida, Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wonder ship was at Port Canaveral on Thursday to show off its latest enhancements including the new Tiana's Place restaurant and the new stage show, "Frozen: A Musical Spectacular." I was there and will have full details in an upcoming article soon.

Disney Wonder was at Port Canaveral on February 2nd to show off its latest enhancements. Panoramic Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

…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 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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Crowd Forecast

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Below are the predicted resort-wide crowd numbers for select days generated by the TouringPlans professional statisticians as measured for the upcoming week. For the access to the full year and per-park crowd level predictions, visit our Crowd Calendar.

Date Overall
Tuesday, February 7, 2017 4 / 10
Wednesday, February 8, 2017 4 / 10
Thursday, February 9, 2017 4 / 10
Friday, February 10, 2017 6 / 10
Saturday, February 11, 2017 6 / 10

Check out the Disney World Park Crowd Levels page on TouringPlans.com for park-specific predictions and recommendations on which days to visit and avoid particular parks!

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Resort Events

Check here to see if a park event might fall during your next trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. If you know of any in-park events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, please send us an e-mail (link).

2017 Resort events

  • Star Wars Experiences – Opened December 1, 2015
  • Epcot International Festival of the Arts – January 13 through February 20, 2017
  • Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom – March 2 & 9 (9 p.m.-12 a.m./midnight); February 2, 9 & 16 (8-11 p.m.).
  • Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival – March 1 - May 29, 2017.
  • MouseAdventure – Saturday, March 4, 2017
  • Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – August 31 through November 13, 2017.
  • Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic – Dates TBD
  • Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party –Dates TBD
  • Holidays at Walt Disney World –Dates TBD
  • Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party–Dates TBD
  • Holidays Around the World at Epcot –Dates TBD
  • Candlelight Processional at Epcot –Dates TBD

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.

2017

2018

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

Note: Not all attraction closures have been officially confirmed by Disney, and are all subject to change at any time. Refurbishment schedules are estimates only. We recommend checking for updates as you plan your visit. All information is subject to change without notice. To get the most recent updates, visit DisneyWorld.com or use the MyDisneyExperience App on your iOS or Android device.

Magic Kingdom

2017

  • Walt Disney World Railroad – closed January 9 – March 2, 2017 for refurbishment.

Walt Disney World Railroad refurbishment has closed Main Street Station but not its upper level platform which guests may use for parade viewing and other activities (except, of course, for the area reserved for VIP guests). Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

  • The Magic Behind our Steam Trains guided tour – closed January 9 – March 2, 2017 during the Walt Disney World Railroad refurbishment.
  • The Hall of Presidents – closed January 17, 2017 to add an audio-animatronic figure of the 45th president of the United States. Expected to reopen July, 2017.

The Hall of Presidents is closed until this summer. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Epcot

Permanently closed:

  • Sum of All Thrills – closed permanently on September 14.
  • Storm Struck – closed permanently on September 14.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Permanently closed:

  • Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show
  • Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure
  • Studio Catering Co.
  • Meet & Greet: Mike and Sulley at Streets of America
  • Magic of Disney Animation
  • The Writer's Stop
  • Academy of Television Sciences Hall of Fame

Disney's Animal Kingdom

  • Kali River Rapids – closed January 3 – February 13, 2017 for refurbishment (or, based on the sign, perhaps longer).

Kali River Rapids is closed for winter refurbishment. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Typhoon Lagoon

  • Closed December 24 – March 11, 2017 for seasonal refurbishment.

Disney Springs

  • Fulton's Crab House – closed for refurbishment. Scheduled to reopen as Paddlefish on Saturday, February 4, 2017.
  • Disney Quest – scheduled to close July 3, 2017 to make way for The NBA Experience.

Resorts

  • Wilderness Lodge and Villas – Hidden Springs pool, resort beach, playground, and Recreation fire pit closed. No opening date provided, but the pool is expected to be closed through 2017. Expect construction-related closures and noise due to construction of Disney Vacation Club's Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge which is scheduled to open in 2017 (though not yet fully registered or available for sale).

Elsewhere

  • Disney Osprey Ridge Golf Course – permanently closed.

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.


Travel Discounts for Everyone

Walt Disney World released several new discount offers for the start of 2017, and Small World Vacations shared the details with us. All of these packages can also be booked through MousePlanet's partner travel agency Get Away Today.

25% off room offer

Save up to 25% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels, valid for stays most nights from February 20 through June 10, 2017. Book your stay by March 30, 2017.

Resort Category Discount
Select Deluxe Villa Resorts Save up to 25%
Select Deluxe Resorts Save up to 25%
Select Moderate Resorts Save up to 20%
Select Value Resorts Save up to 15%

Get a free day added to your ticket when you upgrade to a Magic Your Way package with a minimum 4-day ticket.

Book Through:
March 30, 2017

Travel Dates:
Most nights from February 20 through June 10, 2017

Terms and Conditions:

  • The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited.
  • Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same room.
  • Additional per adult charges may apply if there are more than 2 adults per room at Disney Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts.
  • Advance reservations required.
  • Moderate and Deluxe suites may be available at a lesser discount.
  • Upgrade to a room and ticket package with minimum 4-day Magic Your Way theme park tickets, and receive one more complimentary ticket day.
  • Tickets and options must be used within 14 days of first use.

Offer Restrictions

  • Offer excludes the following room types: 3-bedroom villas, Disney's Art of Animation Resort - The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms and Bungalows at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.
  • Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion
  • Length of stay requirements may apply.

Memory Maker pre-arrival discount

Disney's PhotoPass service provides a discount on Disney Memory Maker pre-arrival packages. For $169 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 $149, a $20 savings. Applicable taxes are charged to all orders.

Purchase 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.

Travel Discounts for Annual Passholders

Spring into 2017 room offer

Passholders can book rooms at the Disney's All-Star Sports Resort starting at $70 per night under this offer. The discount is valid most Sunday through Thursday nights, January 16 through February 15, 2017. Additional resorts and dates are available for stays through April 8. 2017, with rates from $103 at the All-Star Resorts to $293 per night at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Booking Window – Must book by April 7, 2017

Travel Window – Select stays through April 8, 2017

Terms and Conditions:

  • Passholder must present a valid Walt Disney World Pass at check-in.
  • Advance reservations required.
  • Maximum – 14 nights
  • Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotions.
  • Offer excludes the following room types: campsites, 3-bedroom villas, Disney's Art of Animation Resort – The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms and Bungalows at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.

Visit the Annual Passholder website for details, or call 407-939-7676 to book by phone.


Kick Off Your Spring room offer

Passholders can book rooms at the Disney's All-Star Sports Resort starting at $86 per night under this offer. The discount is valid most Sunday through Thursday nights, April 23 through May 25, 2017. Additional resorts and dates are available for stays April 9 through April 22 and May 26 through June 10, 2017, with rates from $101 at the All-Star Resorts to $292 per night at Disney's BoardWalk Inn

Booking Window – Must book by June 9, 2017

Travel Window – Most nights from April 9, 2017 through June 10, 2017

Terms and Conditions:

  • Passholder must present a valid Walt Disney World Pass at check-in.
  • Advance reservations required.
  • Maximum – 14 nights
  • Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotions.
  • Offer excludes the following room types: campsites, 3-bedroom villas, Disney's Art of Animation Resort – The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms and Bungalows at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.

Visit the Annual Passholder website for details, or call 407-939-7676 to book by phone.

If you know of an offer we haven't listed, please drop us an email with the details!

Discounts for Disney Rewards VISA Credit Card Holders


20 percent off Joffrey's coffee/tea kiosks

Disney Visa cardholders receive 20 percent off their entire purchase at Joffrey's coffee/tea kiosks throughout Walt Disney World, including Tea Traders Café by Joffrey's, and online at Joffreys.com with code: VISABEANS


15 percent off select guided tours

Disney Visa cardholders receive 15 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:

  • Magic Kingdom Park
    • Disney's Family Magic Tour
    • Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour
    • Disney's The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour
    • Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour
  • Epcot
    • Gardens of the World (offered seasonally)
    • The UnDISCOVERed Future World
    • Disney's Dolphins in Depth
    • Epcot DiveQuest
    • Epcot Seas Aqua Tour
    • Behind the Seeds
    • World Showcase: DestiNations Discovered
  • Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
    • Backstage Tales
  • Multiple Theme Parks and Backstage Areas
    • Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour
    • Ultimate Day for Young Families VIP Tour
    • Ultimate Day at Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
    • Backstage Magic
    • Disney's Holiday D-Lights (offered seasonally)
    • Disney's Yuletide Fantasy (offered seasonally)
    • Wilderness Back Trail Adventure

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.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas:

  • Boma
  • Jiko (see restrictions)
  • Sanaa

Disney's BoardWalk Inn and Villas:

  • ESPN Sports Club
  • Flying Fish Cafe (see restrictions)

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort:

  • Shutters at Old Port Royale

Disney's Contemporary Resort:

  • The Wave

Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground:

  • Trail's End Restaurant

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa:

  • Citricos (see restrictions)
  • Grand Floridian Cafe
  • Narcoossee's

Disney's Old Key West Resort:

  • Olivia's Cafe

Disney's Port Orleans Resort:

  • Boatwright's Dining Hall

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa:

  • The Turf Club Bar and Grill

Disney's Wilderness Lodge:

  • Artist Point (see restrictions)
  • Whispering Canyon Cafe

Disney's Yacht Club Resort:

  • Captain's Grille
  • Cape May Cafe

Disney's Hollywood Studios:

  • The Hollywood Brown Derby (see restrictions)
  • Hollywood & Vine (see restrictions)

Epcot:

  • Biergarten Restaurant (see restrictions)
  • Coral Reef (lunch only)
  • Le Cellier (lunch only)
  • Rose & Crown Dining Room (lunch only)

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex:

  • ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill

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.

Cardholders also receive 10% off select merchandise purchases of $50 or more at the following Walt Disney World® Resort Operating Participant merchandise locations including Basin®, Basin White®, Chapel Hats, Good Fortune Gifts and House of Good Fortune, kidsHeritage and Marrakesh Emporium Arts & Crafts.


15 percent off all Disney spa and salon services

Disney Visa cardholders receive 15 percent off the non-discounted price of any salon treatment valued at $45 or greater or any 50-minute or longer spa service most days at the spas and salons at Walt Disney World Resort listed below:

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

  • Senses – A Disney Spa
  • Ivy Trellis Salon

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

  • Senses – A Disney Spa

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas

  • Zahanati Massage & Fitness Center

Disney's Contemporary Resort

  • Olympiad Fitness Center

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

  • La Vida Health Club
  • Casa de Belleza Salon

Disney's Wilderness Lodge

  • Sturdy Branches Health Club

Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts

  • Ship Shape Massage Salon Fitness

10% off select recreation experiences

Disney Visa cardholders receive 15 percent off the non-discounted price of the recreation experiences listed below:

  • Carriage Rides at Disney's Port Orleans Resort and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
  • Horseback Trail Rides at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

Free 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. at the Imagination Pavilion at Epcot (enter near the jumping fountains near the exit to the Magic Eye Theater). You'll receive one free character photo download per day.


Star Wars meet and greet at Disney's Hollywood Studios' Star Wars Launch Bay

Present your Disney's Premier Visa Card or Disney Rewards Visa Card for access to a character meet and greet at Star Wars Launch Bay for the cardholder and up to five guests. The event is hosted daily from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. inside Star Wars Launch Bay at Disney's Hollywood Studios. You'll receive one free character photo download per day.


Travel Discounts for Military Personnel

2017 Military Salute – 4-Day or 5-Day Military Promotional Ticket discount

Through December 19, 2017, active and retired U.S. military personnel (including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard, National Guard and Reservists) or their spouses can purchase:

  • Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Park Hopper Option for $209 each, plus tax
  • Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Park Hopper and Water Park Fun and More Options for $246 each, plus tax.
  • Disney 5-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Park Hopper Option for $224 each, plus tax
  • Disney 5-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Park Hopper and Water Park Fun and More Options for $261 each, plus tax.

Walt Disney World Resort tickets may be used January 1 through December 19, 2017, except that the tickets may not be used April 9–23, 2017.

Active and retired U.S. military personnel can purchase Disney Military Promotional Tickets for themselves and up to five additional family members or friends. No more than six Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased by any eligible member of the U.S. military (or spouse) pursuant to this offer. All tickets and options are non-transferable and must be used by December 19, 2017.

Military Salute – Hotel discount

Disney does not publish the actual discounted rates offered to service members under this program, and instead asks eligible U.S. military personnel to call 407-939-7830 to check pricing, availability and to make reservations. The website Military Disney Tips.com says the offer is 30-40 percent, based on room category.

The 2017 offer is valid most nights from January 1 through December 19, 2017. Like the ticket offer, the hotel discounts are not valid April 9–23, 2017.

Travel Discounts for Florida Residents

None at this time. If you know of an offer we haven't listed, please drop us an email with the details!

Travel Discounts for Canada Residents

MousePlanet reader Scott S. alerted us to a new offer for Canadian residents. Canadian residents receive a 25% discount on 4-day or longer tickets purchased by February 28, 2017. The discounted rate for a 4-Day adult base ticket is $244.00 USD, compared to $325.00 USD when purchased at the gate. A 10-day adult base ticket is $300 USD, a savings of $100 from the main gate price.

This offer is only good for Canadian citizens with valid passport, or residents of Canada with valid proof of Canadian residency. The tickets are sold as an exchange certificate, and must be exchanged for park ticket upon arrival. There is no expiration date on the unused tickets, but once activated the tickets must be used within 14 days of first entry.

You can see the full details on the Walt Disney World website. Thanks Scott for the heads up!

If you know of an offer we haven't listed, please drop us an email with the details!

Travel Discounts for U.K. Residents

MousePlanet reader Ben from the U.K. wrote to tell us about his recent booking of a 2017 Disney World holiday using a current promotion for U.K. residents. Ben reports:

25% off tickets including a 14 day ticket for the price of a 7

Free nights - you can receive up to 4 free nights on a 2 week holiday.

These promotions are valid till 29th March 2017.

If you know of an offer we haven't listed, please drop us an email with the details!


 

Comments

  1. By carolinakid

    Favorite restaurant: 'Ohana ????? That's why I pay no attention to the Moms Panel!

  2. By asdhollywood

    Sure, after we published today's update, the really big news broke: Pandora-The World of Avatar will open May 27 at Disney's Animal Kingdom and Bob Iger says Star Wars Lands at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disneyland in California will open in 2019. More from us about these subjects next week.

    Regards,
    Alan

  3. By quackinup

    Aaarrggghhh....2 weeks after I'm there....

  4. Discuss this article on MousePad.