Disney News, Discussion & an Element of Fun - 2022 Edition

[rangerxenos]

Good Morning!

 

[rangerxenos]

First December Date Sells Out for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom


December 15, 2022 – SOLD OUT

Darn, I need to decide today if I'm going when I'm there in December.

 

[rangerxenos]

Disney unwraps full details for the 2022 holidays at Walt Disney World - Jingle Bell Jingle Bam! and Castle Dreamlights DO NOT return​

Disney has released more information about the 2022 holiday season line-up at Walt Disney World, confirming the entertainment offerings at each park.

Notably, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam! does not return to Disney's Hollywood Studios, neither do the Cinderella Castle Dreamlights at Magic Kingdom. Instead, theme park icons will continue to transform into Beacons of Magic in between showings of glittering holiday-themed displays.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom​

• A Merry Menagerie of life-sized, artisan-sculpted puppets of winter animals bring Discovery Island to life as they interact with guests alongside serenading musicians.
  
  
• After dark, watch the Tree of Life awaken as a series of wintry tales emerge from within, complemented by holiday-inspired music.

EPCOT​

EPCOT Festival of the Holidays

From Nov. 25 through Dec. 30, 2022, guests will find holiday magic throughout the entire park.

• EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth returns Nov. 25 through Dec. 30, 2022.
  
  
• “Candlelight Processiona,” takes place nightly at America Gardens Theatre and features celebrity narrators retelling the Christmas story accompanied by the Voices of Liberty a cappella ensemble, a 50-piece live orchestra with herald trumpets, and glorious massed choirs comprised of Disney cast members and Central Florida community groups. Learn more about Candlelight Processional.
  
  
• “JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season,” a stirring and uplifting performance of music in celebration of Christmas and Kwanzaa, returns with multiple performances daily.
  
  
• Holiday Kitchens will cook up treasured recipes and festive drinks from around the globe, as well as an eye-popping selection of treats to satisfy nearly any sweet tooth.
  New savory offerings include an Impossible™ Chorizo Tamale, a Plant-based Cotija Cheese and Spicy Red Chile Sauce found at Nochebuena Cocina Holiday Kitchen.
  Returning guest-favorites include the Maple Bûche de Noël found at Holiday Hearth Holiday Kitchen. This sweet treat features Maple Mousse and Cranberry rolled in Gingerbread Chiffon Cake.
  
  
• The Holiday Cookie Stroll offers guests the opportunity to embark on a sweet scavenger hunt and visit different booths and purchase an array of cookies. Those who complete the scavenger hunt are rewarded with a completer cookie.
• Santa will be greeting with guests inside the Odyssey Pavilion as he gets ready for the big day.
  
  
• Heartwarming performances around World Showcase include Canadian Holiday Voyageurs, Las Posadas with Mariachi Cobre, the Chinese Lion Dance and holiday storytellers.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios​

• Sunset Seasons Greetings brings holiday magic each evening as the iconic Hollywood Tower Hotel transforms into myriad scenes including a “Toy Story” toy hotel, a snowy corner of Arendelle and more.
  
  
• The Santa Claus Merry Motorcade features jolly St. Nick himself cruising down Hollywood Blvd. in his candy-apple red convertible stuffed full of presents.
  
  
• Olaf stars in a festive finale to “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” that delights guests with performances of celebratory songs of the holiday season.

Magic Kingdom​

• Holiday cheer will fill Magic Kingdom Park as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party returns on 24 select nights Nov. 8-Dec. 22, 2022. The separately ticketed event will invite guests to an evening of unforgettable merriment. Learn more about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
  
  
• Mickey Mouse and his pals appear on Cinderella Castle stage for a Christmas extravaganza – “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration.” The show features singers, dancers and surprises all choreographed to nostalgic and modern medleys of holiday music.
  Minnie Mouse orchestrates a sparkling nighttime spectacular with dazzling fireworks, castle projections and seasonal songs in “Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks.”
  
  
• Santa Claus joins Mickey Mouse and friends in the must-see “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.”
  
  
• Partygoers can indulge in complimentary cookies and hot cocoa at locations throughout Magic Kingdom.
  
  
• Select Magic Kingdom attractions get a jolly holiday overlay with Jungle Cruise transforming into Jingle Cruise, and special holiday makeovers of Space Mountain, Tomorrowland Speedway, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and Mad Tea Party.
  
  
• Guests can join Buzz Lightyear, Mike Wazowski, and Stitch for the out-of-this-world holiday stage show, “A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas,” on the Rockettower Plaza Stage.
  
  
• New to this year’s party, attendees have three jolly new Disney PhotoPass opportunities and they will receive a special 50th Anniversary commemorative keepsake themed to the holidays.
  
  
• New sweet treats this year include Texas-sized Sweet Potato Pie with Marshmallow Meringue and Candied Pecans found at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café to go along with returning favorites like the Mickey-shaped Cinnamon Roll with White Icing and Holiday Sprinkles at Main Street Bakery.
  
  
• On nights when Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is not held, Cinderella Castle transforms to take on a magical holiday look complete with special projection effects, festive colors and a rotating series of designs including a whimsical Christmas sweater, a jeweled castle look and more.

*Click for Disney Springs info

I for one am glad that the puppets are back at AK, that's one of my favorite holiday things there!

I really wish they'd bring back a nighttime show, though. The Star Wars Spectacular would be nice...

 

[rangerxenos]

RUMOR:

New EPCOT Nighttime Show to Feature Drones, Harmonious “Stargate & Taco” Barges to be Removed & Destroyed​

At the D23 Expo, Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro made the surprise announcement that Harmonious, the nighttime spectacular that debuted at EPCOT for the start of the 50th anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World (but was supposed to debut in 2020 and be a long-standing offering), will be replaced next year by a new show.

“The World’s Most Magical Celebration” will end on March 31, 2023, but an official end date for Harmonious has not been announced. No details have been released for the new show, but it is not expected to debut immediately after the last performance of Harmonious. Instead, EPCOT Forever is due to return (again) for the intermediary period. Disney had previously claimed that the show was permanently retired, but Harmonious failed to connect with guests on the level of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth and its infrastructure also ruined views across the picturesque World Showcase Lagoon.

With the incredible success of Disney D-Light at Disneyland Paris for their 30th anniversary, rumor has it that Disney will bring drones stateside with EPCOT’s new nighttime show debuting towards the end of 2023.

Yay, we'll be able to see across the lagoon again!

 

[mrsap]

Good Morning All!

 

[mrsap]

Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit Scavenger Hunt Delayed at EPCOT Due to Hurricane Ian​

Over the summer, Disney announced the popular Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit scavenger hunt from the Disneyland Resort would come over to EPCOT from September 28 through October 31. But with Hurricane Ian shutting down Walt Disney World on the same day, Pluto’s pumpkins seem to be running into some trouble.

 

[mrsap]

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will officially reopen to Guests on October 6


*Cross posting from @GADisneyDad14

 

[Teamubr]

Color me relieved. Saw Harmonious for the first time last week. Was not impressed. Oh, it's fine I suppose. They put those monstrosities in the middle of the lagoon and that's all they do?

This was my thought. The effects on the barges are sort of cool, but it all felt like an "add on" to the actual show. I was more distracted watching the arms to see what they would do instead of actually paying attention to the whole show. We saw it twice when we were down in January. Both times we watched from between Port of Entry and Disney Traders. Apparently this is the only place to have a good view.
I did like HarmoniUS better than Enchantment, but Enchantment has the bar so low, HarmoniUS didn't have to try hard to fall over it. Overall, I'm glad both are being replaced. I'm just shocked they are pulling the barges out so quickly. That has to be a huge investment to just throw away. It's not like dropping Kite Tails where the only loss is a few hundred yards of rip-stop nylon.

j

 

[rangerxenos]

This was my thought. The effects on the barges are sort of cool, but it all felt like an "add on" to the actual show. I was more distracted watching the arms to see what they would do instead of actually paying attention to the whole show. We saw it twice when we were down in January. Both times we watched from between Port of Entry and Disney Traders. Apparently this is the only place to have a good view.
I did like HarmoniUS better than Enchantment, but Enchantment has the bar so low, HarmoniUS didn't have to try hard to fall over it. Overall, I'm glad both are being replaced. I'm just shocked they are pulling the barges out so quickly. That has to be a huge investment to just throw away. It's not like dropping Kite Tails where the only loss is a few hundred yards of rip-stop nylon.

j

Actually, the best place to watch is from Japan/U.S. Personally I loved it, I thought the old show had gotten stale and needed to be replaced.

I am glad that the barges are going, though.

 

[Marrila]

Actually, the best place to watch is from Japan/U.S. Personally I loved it, I thought the old show had gotten stale and needed to be replaced.

I am glad that the barges are going, though.

The barges were hideous. It sounds like they are going. How soon will they disappear?

 

[mickey916]

This was my thought. The effects on the barges are sort of cool, but it all felt like an "add on" to the actual show. I was more distracted watching the arms to see what they would do instead of actually paying attention to the whole show. We saw it twice when we were down in January. Both times we watched from between Port of Entry and Disney Traders. Apparently this is the only place to have a good view.
I did like HarmoniUS better than Enchantment, but Enchantment has the bar so low, HarmoniUS didn't have to try hard to fall over it. Overall, I'm glad both are being replaced. I'm just shocked they are pulling the barges out so quickly. That has to be a huge investment to just throw away. It's not like dropping Kite Tails where the only loss is a few hundred yards of rip-stop nylon.

j

I agree with this. I enjoyed the show but hated the look of the barges and also the fact that there were only specific viewing spots. Seems like a big blunder to spend all that money without thinking through the full impact of the barges.

 

[Moliphino]

Yeah I feel like if they had managed to get the fountain during the day part to work out then maybe they would have wanted to keep them but as is they are an eye sore during the day. And as much as I love HarmonioUS, I’m also still of the camp that wouldn’t mind a new plussed up Illuminations.

I've always thought they should've kept the Illuminations music and just updated the show. Replace the globe with something easier to see that works, update the pyro - that was really all it needed.

 

[amcc]

I really liked HarmonioUS - it's a great show! However, I can totally see how the barges just didn't quite work out. It was nice that they were large and easily visible, unlike the Illuminations globe, but they were maybe TOO large and I totally get how they messed up daytime sightlines. If they are moving forward, then it will be best to come up with something else. Honestly, I don't think most fans will be happy with anything except the return of Illuminations.

My favorite show was the old one with the music of each country and lighting up each pavilion with an outline of lights. It was so beautiful and the entire World Showcase was part of the show.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I've always thought they should've kept the Illuminations music and just updated the show. Replace the globe with something easier to see that works, update the pyro - that was really all it needed.

I miss Illuminations!!

 

[Pete M]

hmmm, an interesting rumor for sure. I heard his words and figured they were simply designing a new show using the barges. that's a heck of a lot of engineering to just... discard.

 

[jpeterson]

hmmm, an interesting rumor for sure. I heard his words and figured they were simply designing a new show using the barges. that's a heck of a lot of engineering to just... discard.

It's important for a corporation to not fall into the sunk cost fallacy. Just because they have poured a lot of money into a failure, doesn't mean they should pour more in. They have to know/learn when to accept failure, learn lessons and move on. There is nothing wrong with failing as long as you are willing to learn from it.

 

[Brocktoon]

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will officially reopen to Guests on October 6


*Cross posting from @GADisneyDad14

I'm taking this with a grain of salt currently, as Disney guest services has been giving varying responses on the reopening date. Also, what qualifies as reopening vs what will actually be available? But, we'll know more tomorrow ...

 

[mrsap]

Behind the Seeds Tour Returns to The Land Pavilion at EPCOT​

At long last, the classic Behind the Seeds tour of the greenhouses within The Land has returned to EPCOT, and we were there for the very first tour!

 

[Pete M]

It's important for a corporation to not fall into the sunk cost fallacy. Just because they have poured a lot of money into a failure, doesn't mean they should pour more in. They have to know/learn when to accept failure, learn lessons and move on. There is nothing wrong with failing as long as you are willing to learn from it.

very true. I guess I'm just not sure how to define "failure" with an evening show set in an area that's always crowded anyways (at least when I've been there). maybe the repair/upkeep costs are getting out of hand? I'm still putting my money on new music and color patterns. lots of options with that setup, only limited by your imagination.

 

[mrsap]

Full Details for World Showcase Holiday Storytellers at EPCOT During 2022 Holiday Season

Throughout the holidays, World Showcase comes alive with the legends and lore of the season.


Las Posadas Celebration – Mexico Pavilion

¡Feliz Navidad! Join the fun and pageantry of Las Posadas with dancers, piñatas, and the music of Mariachi Cobre. Performance Details:

• Sundays through Thursdays
• 11:05 AM, 12:05 PM, 1:05 PM, 3:05 PM, 4:10 PM and 5:15 PM
• 25-minute performances

A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa – Norway Pavilion
Celebrate the season with laughter as a mischievous Barn Santa visits Sigrid, an unsuspecting Christmas storyteller. Performance Details:

• Sundays through Saturdays
• 11:35 AM, 12:35 PM, 1:35 PM, 2:35PM, 4:35PM, 5:35 PM, 6:35 PM and 7:10 PM
• 15-minute performances

Chinese Lion Dancer – China Pavilion
Catch a glimpse of this colorful performance that brings good fortune and happiness in the Lunar New Year. Performance Details:

• Sundays through Saturdays
• Noon, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM
• 15-minute performances

La Befana – Italy Pavilion
Come hear the tale of La Befana, the kind-hearted witch who visits sleeping young children on the Eve of the Epiphany. Performance Details:

• Sundays through Saturdays
• 11:30 AM, 12:15 PM, 1:00 PM, 2:40 PM, 3:35 PM, 4:20 PM, 5:05 PM and 5:45 PM
• 15-minute performances

Santa Claus – The Odyssey Pavilion
Get ready for Christmas with Santa Claus now through December 24. Whether you know him as St. Nick, Père Noël or Father Christmas, a visit with jolly Santa Claus brings good cheer to the season. Performance Details:

• Sundays through Saturdays
• 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM, 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM
• 60-minute performances

Daruma Storyteller – Japan Pavilion
Hear the fascinating story of the Daruma doll and the Japanese customs of the New Year! Performance Details:

• Sundays through Saturdays
• 11:20 AM, 12:40 PM, 1:40 PM, 3:20 PM, 4:20 PM, 5:05 PM, 5:50 PM and 6:35 PM
• 15-minute performances

Hanukkah Storyteller – Between Morocco and France Pavilions
Guests will discover an entertaining celebration of Hanukkah along World Showcase promenade, where a storyteller recounts traveling abroad to explore the diverse music and traditions of Hanukkah around the world. Performance Details:

• Sundays through Saturdays
• 10:15 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:40 PM, 1:15 PM, 2:45 PM, 3:45 PM, 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM
• 15-minute performances

Père Noël – France Pavilion
Visit with Père Noël and rediscover the magic of Christmas through the letter of a delightful child. Performance Details:

• Sundays through Saturdays
• 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:10 PM, 12:50 PM, 2:15 PM, 3:15 PM, 4:30 PM and 5:15 PM
• 15-minute performances

Father Christmas – United Kingdom Pavilion
Join Father Christmas as he rings in the season, sharing the traditions of the United Kingdom and good cheer. Performance Details:

• Sundays through Saturdays
• 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:40 PM, 1:30 PM, 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM
• 15-minute performances

Canadian Holiday Voyageurs – Canada Pavilion
Explore holiday customs from the various regions of Canada on a musical tour of the Great White North with the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs. Performance Details:

• Sundays through Saturdays
• 11:45 AM, 12:45 PM, 1:45 PM, 3:25 PM, 4:30 PM and 6:35 PM
• 20-minute performances