All the Disney Parks in One Podcast
Disney Parks Podcast Show #828- Disney New For The Week Of August 12, 2024
In today’s show, we recap the announcements at D23, headline News and so much more.
Halloween is just around the corner for us over here at Disneyland as the festivities will kick off this Friday September 3rd with the return of some of the Disneyland Resort exclusive attractions and decorations including the Haunted Mansion Holiday and all of the decorations for Radiator Springs Honkin’ Halloween Festivities. The real tricks and treats will happen on September 9th as Oogie Boogie and his band of Villains take over select evenings at Disney California Adventure.
On select nights beginning Sept. 9, through October 31, 2021, this after-park hours event “Oogie Boogie Bash: A Disney Halloween Party” will add to the spooky fun during Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort. This separate ticket and limited-capacity event at Disney California Adventure Park starts at 6pm but guests can enter into the park at 3pm with this ticket. It will feature exclusive entertainment, character sightings, food and beverage and more! Guests of all ages can enjoy wearing their favorite Halloween outfit while taking in all the sights and the trick-or-treating experiences. One of these special areas of the park is the Villains Grove which takes over the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in the Grizzly Peak area.
The Villains Grove is a walk-though open air experience where sections of the trail are dedicated to different villains. This area will feature such classic villains as The Queen of Hearts section with light up roses (pictured above) as well as projections of the Cheshire Cat, Tarot Cards from Dr. Facilier, as well as other surprises. As you walk through this trail you may see something you didn’t see the last time you were walking through. There may not be candy on this trail but you will find plenty to see and look at!
After visiting the trail – let’s go get some CANDY! There are multiple treat trails which may seem very similar to the Boo Bash experience at Magic Kingdom however here at Oogie Boogie Bash, each trail for candy has a dedicated live villain. In 2019 we were able to see Dr. Facilier, The Evil Queen, Maleficent, The Mad Hatter, and of course Oogie Boogie. NEW this year for 2021, Disney has announced 3 new villains including Sid from Toy Story, Cruella from the newest live action film, as well as Agatha Harkness from WandaVision! We can not wait to see these new additions with all of our returning favorites.
Dr. Facilier is getting ready to greet guests!
The last highlight of the party is the Frightfully Fun Parade which runs two times each night. This parade premiered originally at the Mickey’s Halloween Party in Disneyland Park a few years ago but was extended slightly when the Halloween party moved to Disney California Adventure. The whole parade lasts about 13 minutes with plenty of villains as well as some of the more fun (not so scary) costumes on Mickey, Minnie, and other friends. My favorite part is seeing the Mayor car ride by along with the Vampires from the Nightmare Before Christmas movie! I also love hearing the scrapes of the shovels from the Gravediggers and the Haunted Mansion trio of ghosts. This parade ends with so many villains you will run away screaming in delight!
Are you looking forward to Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort? Stay tuned for more updates and leave us a comment on your favorite villain below! Oogie Boogie Bash: A Disney Halloween Party at Disney California Adventure is sold out as of right now but dates may open up so make sure you ask your Destinations to Travel Agent to keep their eyes out for an opening!
If you would like more information contact me on Facebook at Destinations to Travel with Patrick O’Connor
Disneyland Paris has confirmed that the resort will remain closed until early on in 2021, as a result of the latest government measures for France related to COVID-19.
The resort was aiming to reopen for the holiday season, but now it appears that it will have to keep the gates closed until Feb. 12, 2021.
For guests who had booked a future trip during this closure period, options availalble include canceling and receiving a full refund or postponing the trip and booking new dates to visit. Starting Dec. 1, guests will be able to rebook their summer break trips at the current available rate for arrivals starting on April 1, 2021.
As for Annual Passes, the duration of those and their benefits, depending on the pass type, will be extended the number of days the resort is temporarily closed—starting from the expiration date of the pass—and monthly payments will be suspended from Nov. 1, 2020 through March 2021. As of right now, new Annual Pass sales are currently suspended.
To learn more about temporary adjustments and cancelation policies for Disneyland Paris in relation to this second temporary closure, visit DisneylandParis.com.
Disney has announced that Hong Kong Disneyland will experience yet another temporary closure starting Dec. 2, 2020 due to COVID-19.
This third temporary closure is “required by the government and in line with preventative efforts taking place across Hong Kong.” The Disney park and its officials remain in close contact with health authorities and the government about the situation at hand, and plan to announce a reopening date once it is advisable to do so.
This is the second Disney Park to re-close its gates due to COVID-19, as Disneyland Paris made the same announcement recently. The resort has since shared a reopening date set for Feb. 12, 2021.
Hong Kong Disneyland originally closed due to COVID-19 earlier this year, followed by a reopening in June and a subsequent closure in July. The resort reopened for the second time in September of this year, and unveiled its newly-transformed Castle of Magical Dreams shortly before its third closure was announced.
As of the time of writing, other international parks Shanghai Disney Resort and Tokyo Disney Resort are still open to guests, and Walt Disney World continues to be the only Disney resort open domestically.
The holiday season at Walt Disney World Resort starts today, and we’re unwrapping more details about the magical experiences happening across our theme parks and Disney Springs, including special pop-up appearances by Santa Claus. Read on for all the festive fun!
Magic Kingdom Park
Your favorite characters don their holiday best and celebrate the season in a series of special cavalcades, complete with Christmastime floats and music. From Mickey and friends trimming a tree to Goofy and his pals whipping up a bakeshop full of scrumptious treats, character cavalcades bring holiday spirit to the streets of Magic Kingdom throughout the day. And keep your eyes open for Santa when he glides down the parade route in his sleigh.
Main Street, U.S.A. is the spot to catch the Holiday Trolley, bringing festive harmonies from the Dapper Dans barbershop quartet, and you may just see some Toy Soldiers joining the Main Street Philharmonic when they march through Magic Kingdom playing their merry melodies.
At night, holiday magic brings a festive look to Cinderella Castle with special projection effects, producing a kaleidoscope of designs including festive stripes and dots, a whimsical Christmas sweater look, a jeweled winter castle and a regal overlay of red, green and gold ornamentation. It’s sure to provide the perfect colorful backdrop for your holiday photos.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Holiday fun returns to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, bringing unique seasonal décor and a flurry of festive flotillas with favorite Disney characters sailing down the Discovery River to a jolly holiday soundtrack.
“Donald’s Dino Bash Festive Flotilla” takes its seasonal celebration to the water, with character friends waving to everyone as they pass, and Chip ‘n’ Dale jingle through the jungle, bringing their own style of holiday flair to the river. The Discovery Island Drummers cruise along, too, entertaining guests on the shore with an energetic holiday beat. And when Santa Claus makes the trek to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, he’ll spread the joyous spirit of the season to all he sees along the way.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios get their own visit from Santa when he brings glitz and glamour to a motorcade down Hollywood Boulevard, led by an entourage of elves and riding in his red convertible packed with presents. And just in time for the holiday season, “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” adds a festive finale, featuring everyone’s favorite snowman, Olaf, and celebratory songs of the season.
After dark, the iconic Hollywood Tower Hotel on Sunset Boulevard will twinkle with projection effects as it becomes the Hollywood Holiday Tower Hotel, magically transforming into a Muppets gingerbread masterpiece, a Toy Story toy hotel, a snowy corner of Arendelle and a Dickensian village inspired by “Mickey’s Christmas Carol.”
Disney Springs
The holidays arrive at Disney Springs on Nov. 7, when the area will transform into a winter wonderland, full of sparkling lights, enchanting décor and holiday surprises. Disney Springs is the place to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list – including yourself! And here, you’ll want to take a break and savor the comforting flavors of the season.
As you wander, you can enjoy the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll presented by AdventHealth, with elaborately decorated, Disney-themed trees appearing throughout the shopping, dining and entertainment district. There will also be music-playing DJs during the day, and in the evening, stilt-walking toy soldiers, skating snowflakes and a magical snowfall will add a touch of wonder for holiday shoppers at surprise locations.
Santa and Mrs. Claus are also making the trip to Disney Springs this year, where later in November you’ll be able to catch them soaking up their last bit of Florida sunshine before their big night. Look for them cruising Lake Buena Vista and sharing Christmas wishes from a pair of colorfully decorated pontoon boats.
Disney Parks Holiday Merchandise
You can bring the Disney Parks magic of the season home with you with new holiday-themed merchandise available throughout Walt Disney World Resort, as well as the Downtown Disney District and Buena Vista Street at Disneyland Resort in California (starting Nov. 19) and online at shopDisney.com. From apparel to accessories to homeware and more, these very merry collections feature the latest ear headbands, spirit jerseys for adults and children, plush, mini-backpacks by Loungefly, cloth face coverings and more. Highlights include:
This is just a sampling of all the festive fun you will enjoy at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort this year. And there’s more to come! EPCOT gets into the spirit a little later in the month, when the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth kicks off Nov. 27 with live entertainment, Holiday Kitchens, the Holiday Cookie Stroll and more.
Disney Parks Podcast Show #590 – Disney News For The Week Of April 15, 2019
In today’s show, Special Coca Cola coming to Star Wars: Galaxy Edge, confirmed Beauty and the Beast lounge coming to Grand Floridian Resort, Disney + has a release date, trivia, and so much more!
Disney Parks Podcast Show #585 – Disney News For The Week Of April 1, 2019
In today’s show, Disney updates stroller, smoking, and ice policies, Eggstravaganza Returns to the Disneyland Resort, Disney Vacation Club announces ‘Galactic Gathering’ at Epcot, meet-ups, and so much more!
Disney Parks Podcast Show #584 – Disney News For The Week Of April 1, 2019
In today’s show, Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures Debuts, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! opens, enhancements coming to ABC Commissary, trivia, and so much more!