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Recently, Burkely Duffield from Freeform’s all-new series Beyond and Katherine McNamara from Shadowhunters visited the Disneyland Resort! A little rain couldn’t dampen the fun they had around both parks! In the midst of the holiday season, the pair had so much fun at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks. Burkely and Kat found classic Mickey Mouse ears to wear around the park. Thrill seekers at heart, they visited Hyperspace Mountain in Tomorrowland. They even met and Mickey Mouse! After all this fun, it’s back to work on the set of their Freeform series. Shadowhunters returns on Monday, Jan. 2, at 8pm/7c followed by the 2-hour series premiere of Beyond at 9pm/8c! Then, binge the entire Beyond series on the Freeform app! View the full article

'Wishes for Wildlife' - Butterflies | Disney's Animals, Science & Environment View the full article

If you caught the “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Celebration” on ABC earlier this week, you may have seen this amazing sneak peek into one of Walt Disney World’s most exciting expansions: the construction of Pandora – The World of Avatar, which will open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom this summer. As you can see, Pandora – The World of Avatar will transport guests to a visually stunning world complete with floating mountains and bioluminescent plants. Here, guests will be able to experience two expeditions that will truly push adventure to the next level. The family friendly Na’vi River Journey will send guests down a sacred river hidden within a bioluminescent rainforest. Their journey will end in an unforgettable encounter with a Na’vi shaman, a figure who has a deep connection to the life force of Pandora. And second, the Avatar Flight of Passage excursion will offer the jaw-dropping experience of riding on a Banshee over the world of Pandora. Check out the video above, in which the project team shares how this new land has already exceeded even their own imaginations. What do you think? Tell us in the comments section below! View the full article

I’ve spent many a New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World Resort, watching the calendar turn from one year to the next under the shadow of Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, the Chinese Theater and even at Disney Springs (back then being Downtown Disney)! Some of the best memories I have of New Year’s Eves past have been at Walt Disney World Resort. We at the Disney Parks Blog – along with some of our famous friends – wanted to take a quick second to give you the lowdown on what’s happening this Dec. 31. As you can see, we have a ton of special events, entertainment – and, of course, fireworks – planned for Saturday evening. And if you just can’t make it out to the parks, we invite you to join us online right here at the Blog for our Live Stream of the “Fantasy in The Sky” Fireworks from Magic Kingdom Park, starting at 11:45 p.m. EST on Dec. 31. Happy New Year! View the full article

It’s hard to believe 2016 is about to come to an end! It’s been a fantastic year for Disney Cruise Line, and there are so many fun moments to reflect back on. Here are just seven highlights from a year jam-packed with exciting announcements, stellar awards and brand-new experiences… 1. We unleashed the Force. For the first time in 2016, Disney cruisers were transported to a galaxy far, far away during Star Wars Day at Sea. On 15 special sailings aboard the Disney Fantasy, we combined the power of the Force, the magic of Disney and the excitement of cruising for an out-of-this-galaxy experience unlike any other. 2. We announced we are expecting. The Walt Disney Company unveiled plans to build two additional cruise ships, scheduled to be completed in 2021 and 2023. Each new ship will be approximately 135,000 gross tons, slightly larger than the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. 3. We visited the land of Merida. Our summer in Europe featured destinations in more than 15 European countries, including a 12-night cruise through the British Isles. This special voyage took Disney cruisers to brand-new ports of call in Scotland, England, Ireland and France. 4. We assembled The Avengers. In the fall of 2017, Disney Magic cruisers will celebrate the legendary Super Heroes and Super Villains from the Marvel Universe during a brand-new, day-long celebration – Marvel Day at Sea – on select cruises from New York City. 5. We added wonder-ful new experiences to the Disney Wonder. The ship was transformed from bow to stern, giving guests of all ages new ways to enjoy stories from across The Walt Disney Company with spaces like Tiana’s Place restaurant and Marvel Super Hero Academy. 6. We made it snow on a cruise ship. “Frozen, A Musical Spectacular” debuted aboard the Disney Wonder, bringing the story of “Frozen” to life like never before. An innovative combination of traditional theatrical techniques, modern technology and classic Disney whimsy make this new stage show a completely unique production. 7. We sailed our way to the top once again. For the 4th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report awarded Disney Cruise Line the coveted Gold Badge in both the Best Cruise Line for Families and Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean categories. This honor joins the list of more than 250 distinguished awards given to us since first setting sail in 1998. Best wishes to you and your family as we close out 2016 and look forward to what’s in store for 2017! View the full article

The way the day begins at Magic Kingdom is about to change, Walt Disney World has announced. As of Jan. 9, a new stage show in the shadow of Cinderella Castle will launch the theme park day instead of the "Magic Kingdom Welcome Show" at the turnstiles, according to a post on the official Disney... View the full article

Happy New Year from Disney Food Blog! We are so excited to wrap up another year (especially THIS year…blergh) of bringing you all of the Disney Food News as it happens all around the world! And so, as we bid adieu to 2016 and ring in what we know is going to be a GREAT 2017, we wanna thank you in the best way we know how — with a SAVINGS just in time for your next Disney trip on our 2017 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! TODAY — use promo code HAPPYNEWYEAR for 50% off our most popular Disney food guide, packed with hundreds of color photos and expert tips! This deal won’t last long — so get your 2017 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining today, and make a resolution to start planning your next Disney trip right away! As always, THANKS TO YOU for supporting Disney Food Blog! Happy New Year from YOUR DFB Team! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: Happy New Year! Celebrate with a Special Deal on the DFB Guide 2016 Pre-Order BIGGEST Sale of the Year: 50% Off Our DFB Everything Bundle! DFB Cyber Week SALE: 50% Off the DFB Guide + Snacks Bundle! View the full article

Magic All Around - Spring Vacation | Walt Disney World Resort View the full article

It’s just about that time we start winding down 2016 and preparing for 2017. Big Al from the Country Bear Jamboree is ready to ring in the New Year in his photo from 1984! Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year, from me and Big Al! View the full article

This year our team had a tremendous amount of fun sharing sneak peeks at new Disney Parks experiences, films and more through our Disney Parks Blog Meet-Ups at both the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. Here are some of our most memorable “meet-up” moments from 2016. 1) Transforming Spaceship Earth into the Death Star – Prior to the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, 400 Disney Parks Blog readers gathered to share in the Star Wars fandom when we temporarily transformed Spaceship Earth at Epcot into the Death Star. We were also thrilled to have actor Mads Mikkelsen (Galen Erso in the film) make a surprise appearance and do a quick Q&A for the group. 2) “Pete’s Dragon” Screening In the Great Outdoors – Our first ever “Meet-Up Under the Stars” was held this year in the lovely outdoors of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Actor Oakes Fegley who plays Pete in the film even stopped by to introduce the movie. 3. Celebrating “Moana” On The Beach – What better place for a screening of “Moana” than the beach at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort? Although the weather was unseasonably cold, more than 1,000 attendees turned up for the fun evening, which included an appearance by “Moana” writer Jared Bush. 4. Readers Celebrate “Speak Like A Whale Day” With “Finding Dory” – Ask a Disney Parks Blog fan to wear a costume and you can never anticipate the creativity they’ll come up with! Some of the most creative fan outfits we saw this year were spotted at our screening of “Finding Dory,” where our readers also enjoyed posing for our “Under the Sea Selfies” and our “Fish Face” cam. 5. Jon Favreau Surprises Disney Parks Blog Fans – During a special advanced screening of Disney’s “The Jungle Book” at the Disneyland Resort, the director surprised 400 fans in attendance when he showed up to introduce his film. View the full article

It’s been another year of endless magic at Disney Parks, and it was a particularly prolific one for our Creative Entertainment team, producing amazing new entertainment experiences around the world for you to enjoy! Shanghai Disney Resort – When Shanghai Disney Resort made its debut in June, it represented the largest entertainment program ever produced for the opening of a Disney destination, with unique experiences that are both authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese. Throughout Shanghai Disneyland, you can find delightful moments like “Tai Chi with Donald,” as well as innovative stage spectacles like “Eye of the Storm – Captain Jack’s Stunt Spectacular” – with pirates fighting mid-air in a swirling vortex! “Tarzan: Call of the Jungle” in the park’s Adventure Isle came to life through an extraordinary partnership between Disney and a renowned Chinese acrobatic choreographer and performance troupe. The first-ever Mandarin-language production of Disney’s “THE LION KING” graces the stage of the Walt Disney Grand Theatre in nearby Disneytown, and a full day of entertainment at Shanghai Disneyland is capped off with the award-winning “Ignite the Dream – A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light,” presented on and above Enchanted Storybook Castle. Star Wars – The Force awakened last year, and it continued to grow in strength throughout 2016 as new Star Wars experiences arrived at Disney Parks around the world including Season of the Force at Disneyland park in California, a Star Wars Tomorrowland Takeover at Hong Kong Disneyland and the launch of “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away” and “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Tokyo DisneySea 15th Anniversary – It’s been “The Year of Wishes” at Tokyo Disney Resort, celebrating the 15th anniversary of Tokyo DisneySea with sparkling new entertainment experiences such as “Crystal Wishes Journey” on Mediterranean Harbor and the completely original production “Out of Shadowland” at the Hangar Stage in the park’s Lost River Delta. Cinderella Castle – At Magic Kingdom Park, Cinderella Castle provided the ultimate backdrop for three incredible new shows this year. In the summer, “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” brought characters from “Tangled” and “The Princess and the Frog” to the castle stage for the first time, and this holiday season saw Mickey and pals host the ultimate Christmas party in “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration.” And at night, the projection show “Once Upon a Time” transforms Cinderella Castle into the ultimate canvas for a fantastic bedtime story. “Frozen – Live at the Hyperion” – Last summer at Disney California Adventure park, this all-new theatrical interpretation of the story of Anna and Elsa came to the stage of the Hyperion Theater. Among its standout achievements, the show features an impressive Cast of talented performers and a remarkable integration of video and projection technology, creating moments that transform the theater into Elsa’s palace and turn Anna to ice right before our very eyes! “Mickey and the Magician” – IAAPA, the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions, recently honored “Mickey and the Magician” with a Brass Ring Award for Best Theatrical Production. This remarkable new show in Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris sends Mickey Mouse on a journey of discovery with some magical Disney friends, resulting in a singing and dancing extravaganza filled with soaring scenery, mind boggling illusions and special effects. New Adventures on Land and Sea – It’s also been an amazing year for new entertainment on Disney Cruise Line, with additions like “Frozen, A Musical Spectacular” and Marvel Super Hero Academy on the Disney Wonder, and at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, there’s now a fantastic luau experience with “KA WA’A” and visits from adventurous wayfinder Moana. Festival of Holidays – Just last month, Disney California Adventure park debuted a new seasonal event, Festival of Holidays, celebrating heartwarming holiday festivities inspired by cultural traditions from around the world. During the day, wonderful entertainment experiences throughout the park draw on the diverse celebrations that bring joy during this festive time of year, and at night the all-new “World of Color – Season of Light” creates a sparkling winter fantasy that wraps you in the warm glow of holiday magic. “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” – From sweet animated moments set to classic Christmas music to glittering laser ribbons in the sky and the crazy antics of elves Wayne and Lanny from Disney’s “Prep & Landing,” the new nighttime spectacular “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” lit up Disney’s Hollywood Studios this holiday season in a whole new way! “Starbright Holidays – An Intel Collaboration” – Disney and Intel explored remarkable new technology this year to create a unique holiday experience, featuring 300 show drones illuminating the night sky over Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort. It’s a perfect example of how Disney is always innovating and looking to the future for new ways to tell stories through entertainment. What’s been your favorite new experience, or what are you looking forward to seeing on a future visit? Let us know in the Comments section. Of course, as busy as the Disney Creative Entertainment was in 2016, we’re not about to rest on our laurels, as they say. There are plenty of plans in development for 2017 and beyond, so continue reading Disney Parks Blog all year long, and we’ll keep you up to speed on all the excitement to come. Happy new year! View the full article

New Year’s Eve is almost here and around the Walt Disney World Resort that means a countdown to fireworks! Created by artist Ashley Taylor, she imagined Genie from “Aladdin” wanting to help out with the massive displays by adding a little magic of his own. “Genie is the perfect character to bring the New Year’s fireworks to life!” she said. “He’s got a lot of tricks up his sleeves!” View the full article

Walt Disney World is offering a Star Wars experience that's three times longer than "Rogue One." The new seven-hour Star Wars Guided Tour gives VIP access to the parts of Disney's Hollywood Studios aligned with a certain galaxy far, far away. In addition to attractions such as Star Tours, Jedi... View the full article

Although we lack precise opening dates for many attractions, here are some of the new things to look forward to — sometime — in 2017: •We'll start with one with an exact date attached. On Jan. 12, Ninjago World opens at Legoland Florida. It's a ninja-themed space with a 4-D ride, climbing wall,... View the full article

In February, I watched former surfer Wheeler Clemons take the inaugural ride on Gatorland's Gator Gauntlet, the disability-enabled zip line that travels above the attraction's reptile-packed marsh. The event gave me, as the kids say, all the feels. Not just because Clemons, who has a spinal-cord... View the full article

Although we lack precise opening dates for many attractions, here are some of the new things to look forward to — sometime — in 2017: •We'll start with one with an exact date attached. On Jan. 12, Ninjago World opens at Legoland Florida. It's a ninja-themed space with a 4-D ride, climbing wall,... View the full article

Planning a summer trip to Disney World in the new year? As of today, booking is available for the 2017 Summer Quick Service Meal Offer specific to guests staying at select Walt Disney World Value Resorts. It entitles each guest of your party to one FREE quick service meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) per day of stay. Open-Face Bacon and Egg Sandwich for Breakfast at Be Our Guest Restaurant Here are the details: WHAT: One free quick service meal per day, per person. WHEN: Book now through February 12, 2017 for arrivals most nights from May 30 through August 24, 2017. WHERE: Book your reservations at the following: Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (excludes Fort Wilderness campsites and Disney’s Art of Animation – The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms) NOTE: This is NOT a free Disney Dining Plan offer. Guests taking advantage of this special promotion will have access to one free quick service meal, per person, per day only. Guests can choose from Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner. Fajita Platter at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe Also, please note that this deal is only good when you buy a non-discounted room and theme park ticket package. While the information released indicates that the deal is good on 5-night/6-day vacation packages specifically, you should know that Disney uses that as an example to encourage you to stay that length of time. You can stay a shorter or longer period of time. Here are the details: A minimum 3-night length of stay is required. The purchase of a minimum 2-day Magic Your Way base ticket purchase is required. No refillable mug or snack credits are included Chicken Shawarma Platter at Tangierine Cafe In addition, the following restrictions apply: This offer cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. The meal does not include alcoholic beverages or gratuities. Children ages 3 to 9 must choose from the children’s menu, if available. The number of rooms available for this offer is limited. Act quickly if you’d like to take advantage! Are you planning a trip to Disney World for the Summer of 2017? Please let us know with a comment! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: News! Get a FREE Meal Each Day With This New Disney World Offer News! 2016 Disney World Free Dining Offer Now Available! News: 2017 Disney World Free Dining Offer for UK Residents; And Disney Dining Plan Changes for 2017 View the full article

Longtime Disneyland Resort cast member Steve Finley is well known for driving the Fire Engine up and down Main Street, U.S.A. Steve shares with us how special his role is, including supporting a myriad of special events and transporting Disneyland park guests to Sleeping Beauty Castle. Hear his story about being a Main Street Vehicle Driver in this episode of “Every Role a Starring Role!” View the full article

Who doesn’t love really great Fried Chicken!?! It’s one of my favorites! And fortunately, there are some fantastic spots to get it at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. And we’re telling you all about some of our favorites in our next DFB YouTube Channel Video! Fried Chicken I’ll admit it — Fried Chicken is one of my favorite comfort food guilty pleasures. But it’s also one of those foods that restaurants don’t always do a great job executing. But we’ve found some great spots to share with you! Whether you enjoy your chicken with a side of nostalgia at 50s Prime Time Cafe, with a big dose of history at the Disneyland’s Plaza Inn, or all you can eat with a show at Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue, you have lots of choices! Are you a Disney Food Lover? Mee toooo! We love taking you along with us as we enjoy classics and discover new favorites throughout the parks and resorts. Subscribe to our DFB YouTube Channel and you’ll never miss out on the fun! So head over, watch the video, and then tell me: What’s your favorite spot to enjoy fried chicken at Disney? Leave a comment and join in on the conversation! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: New DFB Video: Best Walt Disney World Restaurants for First Timers New Video! The Best of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival Now on the DFB YouTube Channel! New Video! DFB Reviews AbracadaBar at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn View the full article

The world is minus one Twilight Zone Tower of Terror as the version from Disneyland's California Adventure park let on its last riders Monday. Just two days into the new year, the ride that opened in 2004 shut down so it can get a new look and name later in 2017. It will become Guardians of the... View the full article

Some came dressed in their best formal attire — suits, skinny ties and flowing glittery gowns. Others wore black veils over their faces as if attending a wake. Both fit the mood — one equally as celebratory as it was mournful. The new year isn’t even a week old, and fans of the Disneyland Resort... View the full article

Designing and decorating oversized gingerbread houses is a long-time tradition for Disney. At Disney Cruise Line, we’ve taken this tradition to the next level and turned it into a friendly competition among the pastry and bakery chefs aboard each ship. Each team uses approximately 650 pounds of gingerbread dough, 220 pounds of icing sugar and 5,250 gingerbread bricks – in addition to numerous candies, cookies and other fun decorations. This year, I’m proud to announce the Disney Magic team as the winners of our third annual Gingerbread House Competition. The gigantic gingerbread house is one of the ways we welcome Disney cruisers on our Very Merrytime Cruises, as gingerbread, icing and candy fill each ship’s atrium lobby with delicious smells. It also serves to spark the imagination of families who join our pastry chefs during the cruise in building their own gingerbread house (that they can also enjoy by eating!) Congratulations to the Disney Magic team on their creative masterpiece. To see the winners in years past, check out these previous posts: Disney Dream Wins Second Annual Gingerbread House Competition Disney Fantasy Pastry and Bakery Team Wins First Annual Fleetwide Gingerbread House Competition View the full article

We continue to highlight children’s holiday “Wishes for Wildlife” in this new video. Each week during the holiday season, we will share another video of a child’s “Wish for Wildlife” on the Disney Parks Blog. We will also show you some of the more than 100 pieces of art they created to illustrate their wishes. We will post the children’s art on the Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment Facebook page – so be sure to check it often! View the full article

There’s no better way to say goodbye to the year than reminiscing about our travels, vacations and magical moments. I got a chance to talk with Nathaniel Palma before he finishes his amazing two years as one of the Ambassadors for Walt Disney World Resort. Nathaniel had la experiencia of a lifetime by traveling to Europe, Asia and Hawaii to meet and spend time with the Ambassadors from Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Shanghai Disney Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa! While meeting with cast members in Tokyo and Hawaii, Nathaniel had the opportunity to share with them all that his role entails, including providing interviews to media, volunteer work, and most importantly, creating mágicos moments for our guests and cast members. For him, sharing time with Ambassadors Romina Groschow and Sonia Demay (Disneyland Paris) Riina Imaeda (Tokyo Disney Resort), Sara Hui (Hong Kong Disneyland Resort), Jennie Xu (Shanghai Disney Resort) and Janelle Sanqui (Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa) is a great example of how we are all connected through Disney even though we speak different languages and have different cultures. He will definitely remember this for years to come! What are some of your favorite 2016 memories? View the full article

What a wonderful year it has been! One of the highlights of 2016 for me was experiencing Kilimanjaro Safaris at sunset! Disney’s Animal Kingdom is beautiful in the evenings, and the animals on our savanna are enjoying more time under the night sky. Throughout the year, I’ve had the privilege of seeing animals – from the smallest to the tallest – give birth at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Epcot. These young ones captured our hearts, and we enjoyed sharing their stories. We have also been proud to share stories of our conservation efforts – from reversing the decline of threatened animals around the globe to monitoring sea turtle nests at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. Thank you for a wonderful year! Please enjoy this brief recap of some of the animals born this year at Walt Disney World. View the full article