Tag Archives: Characters

Mar 16 2023

Here’s What Is Coming to Walt Disney World in 2023

Do you have a Walt Disney World vacation coming up in 2023? If so, there’s so many new experiences and returning favorites to enjoy during your trip this year. Here’s what’s coming to Walt Disney World in 2023, courtesy of Disney!

In 2023, Walt Disney World Resort is the place to embrace thrills of all kinds. Exciting new experiences set to debut this year include one of the fastest coasters at any Disney theme park, a new restaurant to savor, the continued transformation of EPCOT, returning nighttime spectaculars filling night skies throughout the resort and so much more.

Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Continues Through March 31

It’s your last chance to experience a party fifty years in the making as the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration will conclude March 31, 2023. Make plans to visit now to see Mickey Mouse and his pals in their EARidescent finery one last time and enjoy all the special sights, tastes and merchandise that mark this momentous event.

New and Returning Character Greetings – All Year

New and returning character experiences are sure to thrill guests of all ages. Beginning April 22, Moana will greet fellow voyagers on Discovery Island at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park – just in time for the park’s 25th anniversary. Fans of Figment will get the chance to hug the long-time EPCOT icon at the Imagination! pavilion beginning late summer. Mickey Mouse and friends will also have a new home at Communicore Hall opening later this year as part of the EPCOT transformation. And, at Magic Kingdom Park this fall, Mirabel from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ hit film “Encanto” will greet guests in Fairytale Garden surrounded by whimsical décor inspired by La Familia Madrigal. These new experiences follow the return of several Magic Kingdom character experiences including Pete’s Silly Sideshow, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Ariel in her underwater grotto and the return of character dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Comes to Disney’s Hollywood Studios – March 23

Yee-haw! Andy’s backyard is preparing to welcome more toys at Roundup Rodeo BBQ opening March 23 in Toy Story Land. Serving barbecue-inspired comfort foods, this one-of-a-kind dining experience is the first “Toy Story” table-service restaurant in the world. A collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney World Food & Beverage, Roundup Rodeo BBQ will bring more toy-sized, tasty fun to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. For more information, please click here!

Nighttime Spectaculars Brighten Skies and Warm Hearts at Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT – April 3

Fan-favorite nighttime spectacular “Happily Ever After” Presented by Pandora Jewelry returns to light up the night sky over Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park beginning April 3. New this year, the nightly fireworks show will fully immerse guests in heartfelt Disney stories as brand-new projections extend down Main Street U.S.A., adding even more magic to this unforgettable spectacle.

“EPCOT Forever” returns to World Showcase Lagoon starting April 3. Featuring stirring renditions of memorable EPCOT music, the show sparks fond memories from the park’s rich history.

The Grid Awaits on TRON Lightcycle / Run Presented by Enterprise – April 4

Beginning April 4, guests can climb aboard Lightcycles for a thrilling race on TRON Lightcycle / Run Presented by Enterprise. Located in Magic Kingdom Park, it is the fastest coaster attraction in a Disney theme park, alongside its sister coaster at Shanghai Disneyland. The attraction masterfully blends coaster thrills with speed, visual effects, music and a one-of-a-kind ride system to create an experience like no other. A virtual queue will be in place when TRON Lightcycle / Run opens and guests will also have the option to purchase individual Lightning Lane entry for the attraction via the My Disney Experience app on the day of their visit. For more information, please click here!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park 25th Anniversary – April 22

2023 marks a special milestone as Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park celebrates its 25th anniversary. With the return of entertainment such as “Festival of the Lion King” and ”Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond!,” there has never been a better time to explore this one-of-a-kind park. It is the place to encounter wild animals, take in high-speed thrills and even journey to a world beyond belief, Pandora – The World of Avatar. Make plans now to visit this special place that celebrates the magic of nature. 

EPCOT Transformation Continues – Late 2023

This fall will bring even more exciting experiences as part of the multi-year transformation of EPCOT. Guests will be able to explore the wonders of water when Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana opens.  This fun interactive outdoor trail offers a chance to play and interact with water as it travels from the sky to the oceans and back again. Along the way, guests learn about the importance of water and discover its playful personality – just as Moana did on her heroic voyage.

Fall will also see completion of the new World Celebration neighborhood. As the hub of the park, it will feature different gardens that change with the seasons. It will also be home to the new Communicore Plaza and the new Communicore Hall, the latter offering a place to meet Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. World Celebration will also anchor the park’s renowned festivals. It is also where guests will discover Dreamers Point, an inspiring overlook showcasing a statue of Walt Disney called “Walt the Dreamer.”

Guests will be treated to the debut of an all-new EPCOT nighttime spectacular later this year. A dazzling display of music, pyrotechnics, lasers and lighting, the show will feature an original composition and evocative selections from the Disney songbook – all woven together to remind us that we are more alike than different.

Disney100 Celebration – Late 2023

Later this year, Walt Disney World Resort will join the global celebration of The Walt Disney Company’s 100th Anniversary – 10 decades of creativity and innovation. Look for more details to come, as EPCOT prepares to host this unforgettable celebration at Walt Disney World.

More Disney Dining Options – Throughout the Year

On April 1, 2023, Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will welcome guests to an exciting new dining experience. This signature-dining restaurant – renowned for its panoramic views of Seven Seas Lagoon – will introduce a new interior along with a refreshed menu offering a perfect balance of updated classics and new culinary delights. Guests can look forward to the return of house specialties such as lobster bisque and new dishes like Blackened Redfish and tasty plant-based options. For more details, please click here!

Later this year, more dining delights will debut, including Summer House on the Lake at Disney Springs and The Cake Bake Shop at Disney’s BoardWalk.

Will you be visiting Walt Disney World in 2023? What are you most looking forward to enjoying? Please leave a comment; I would love to hear from you!

Jun 4 2021

Tusker House Restaurant In Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Tusker House 11Recently I shared the exciting news that Tusker House Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be reopening for guests this summer. Starting today, visitors can begin making advanced dining reservations for the June 20, 2021 opening date and beyond.

According to Disney:

Step inside this lively Harambe marketplace eatery and enjoy family-friendly surroundings. The plentiful family-style menu offers favorites for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

While you dine, snap a photo and tip your pith helmet to Donald Duck—suited up and ready for his next safari adventure—along with his Disney friends, as they travel throughout the dining rooms celebrating their latest expedition.

It’s a wild good time, every time!

Breakfast is priced at $42 per adult and $27 per child, plus tax and gratuity. The breakfast menu features:

Tusker House 8

Lunch and dinner are priced at $55 per adult and $42 per child, plus tax and gratuity. The lunch and dinner menus feature:

Tusker House 9

Tusker House Restaurant offers a full assortment of mocktails, cocktails, beer, hard cider, hard seltzer, and non-alcoholic beverages. All specialty drinks and cocktails are an additional charge.

Important Information From Disney

To dine at an in-park table-service restaurant, you need a confirmed dining reservation for the total number of Guests—regardless of age, plus a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on that same date for each Guest ages 3 and up. Dining reservations do not guarantee access to a park, and Park Hopper availability may change daily. We recommend Guests book in-park dining at the park where they have a Disney Park Pass reservation.

For more information about Tusker House Restaurant, to check availability, and to book advanced dining reservations, please click here.

Will you be visiting Tusker House soon?
Please leave a comment; we would love to hear from you!

May 20 2021

Chef Mickey’s Dinner At Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Chef Mickey's Dinner 7If you’re looking for more dining options for your next Walt Disney World vacation, check out Chef Mickey’s Dinner at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This new offering is sure to be a hit for the whole family! According to Disney:

Chef Mickey’s is now offering an all-you-care-to-enjoy family-style dinner that includes “no touch” appearances like snapping a selfie or waving hello as Mickey Mouse and some of his favorite pals make surprising appearances in each of the dining rooms. Similar to other character dining locations, Guests take home a souvenir with character signatures and colorful artwork.

Seeing your favorite characters isn’t all you can enjoy at Chef Mickey’s! The dinner menu includes items for the whole family, like starters of “Chef Mickey’s Caesar,” citrus-poached shrimp salad, and assorted breads; main courses of gnocchi, roasted garlic potato Gratin, plant-based faro wheat fried rice, prime rib, roasted turkey, and salmon; and an assortment of sweets to top off the meal. Little ones in your family can enjoy mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, turkey corn dog nuggets, and more!

Dinner is served nightly from 5:00pm to 9:30pm and pricing is $55 for adults and $36 for children (tax and gratuity excluded). Reservations can be made 60 days in advance and are strongly recommended. To check availability or to make reservations, please click here.

Will you be trying Chef Mickey’s Dinner?
Please leave a comment; we would love to hear from you!

May 19 2021

Tusker House Restaurant Reopening This Summer In Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Tusker HouseIf you will be visiting Walt Disney World soon, I’ve got some great news for you. Tusker House Restaurant will be reopening in Disney’s Animal Kingdom this summer. According to Disney:

The guest-favorite character dining location at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Tusker House Restaurant, will reopen this summer! During the modified character experience, guests will enjoy delicious family-style entrees inspired by the flavors of Africa and can snap photos of Donald Duck and friends, dressed in their safari best as they promenade through the restaurant.

If you’re not familiar with Tusker House Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, it has one of the most delicious character dining meals in Walt Disney World. For those of you that have dined at Boma in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge before, many of the offerings were similar. Disney hasn’t released the updated menu yet, but with some health and safety measures still in place, Tusker House will be serving family style instead of its typical buffet style.

Previously at breakfast, Tusker House served bacon and eggs, waffles, cereal, fresh fruit and pastries, beef bobotie (spiced minced meat with egg), and fruit chutneys.

Lunch and dinner offered many options such as spit-roasted chicken, carved beef and Kenyan coffee BBQ pork loin; sides like vegetable samosas, curried rice, tandoori tofu and saffron-infused veggies; classic African tastes such as peri peri salmon, curry chicken and tamarind seafood stew, and pita and lavosh breads plus chutneys, hummus and tabouli. For kids with less adventurous palates, a simpler buffet was available with corn dog nuggets, mac ‘n cheese, mashed potatoes, and assorted meats and cheeses. And, of course my favorite…desserts; there was warm banana-cinnamon bread pudding with vanilla sauce, chocolate fudge volcano cake, cherry-apple cobbler, and passion fruit tart.

Stay tuned for more information here as soon as the menu and pricing information are released!

Will you be visiting Tusker House once it reopens?
Please leave a comment; we would love to hear from you!

Apr 14 2021

10 Ways For Tweens To Have Fun At Walt Disney World This Summer

Do you have a tween in your family that you will soon be bringing to Walt Disney World? You might be wondering what there is for kids this age to do, and most importantly, will they have fun so you can. Well, you’re in luck, because there are many things for your tween and the entire family to enjoy together this summer. Here’s a list of 10 unforgettable ways for tweens and their families to experience the magic, courtesy of Disney:

Families planning their next visit to The Most Magical Place on Earth are in for a real treat. That’s especially true for families with tweens. With roller coasters and thrill attractions of all kinds and so much more, tweens can explore new and classic experiences, soak up the sun and indulge in some tasty tastes. From the must-have family photo in front of Cinderella Castle with its new royal colors to character dining experiences with picture-perfect views, here are 10 ways for tweens and families to spring into summer while vacationing at Walt Disney World Resort this year:

  1. Blizzard Beach 4Splash into Fun at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park – This wintry-themed water park is celebrating the best summer ever in splashy style. It’s a great place to enjoy family fun together with big thrills for the kids and places for parents to relax.
  2. Discover Paradise at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – The tropical oasis along the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon is now accepting bookings for late July 2021. The reimagined guest rooms will surround guests with details, patterns and textures inspired by the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios film “Moana.”
  3. Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden FestivalThe Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival Blooms Through July 5 – The event combines the freshest flowers and flavors from around the world, featuring fun for the whole family from garden-inspired cuisine to lifelike character topiaries and new Orange Bird merchandise to complement any selfie. Guests who miss this festival have no reason to worry. On July 15, the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival will kick off and run through November 20, offering plenty of family-friendly fun.
  4. Check Out the Royal Makeover of Cinderella Castle – The treasured icon at the heart of Magic Kingdom Park now features bold, shimmering and regal enhancements befitting its royal status. It makes a great photo backdrop with family and friends.
  5. Earth Week Celebration at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme ParkCelebrate the Magic of Nature – Explore Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, an immersive land featuring massive floating mountains, bioluminescent rainforests and unbelievable experiences including Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey. And from April 18 to 24, the park will connect guests with the magic of nature through Earth Week activities designed to educate, entertain and inspire the whole family.
  6. Find Disney Characters in New Places –From cavalcades to caravans to flotillas and even special “pop-up” appearances, guests of all ages can discover favorite friends at all four theme parks and occasional special surprise appearances at Disney Resort hotels.
  7. Mickey & Minnie's Runaway RailwayStep into an Adventure – At Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests can step through a movie screen and into the cartoon world of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway They can also embark on an adventure in a galaxy far, far away at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the immersive, award-winning land featuring two thrilling attractions: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
  8. Here for the Food – Foodie options are limitless at Walt Disney World, whether sitting for a family meal or snacking between attractions. Guests can enjoy a family-style meal at Chef Mickey’s with Mickey Mouse and his pals at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, or visit Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera at Disney’s Riviera Resort for a fun character dining experience during Breakfast à la Art with Mickey & Friends and a beautiful view of Walt Disney World. EPCOT is another great place to grab a quick bite … or two … or three! The Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival offers more than 20 Outdoor Kitchens where guests can sample tastes and sips as diverse as Avocado Toast and a Maple Popcorn Shake. Top off the experience with classic Disney Parks snacks – buttery popcorn and the classic Mickey Ice Cream Bar are Walt Disney World theme park favorites.
  9. Everglazed 4Stroll, Dine and Shop for the Perfect Gift at Disney Springs – Guests visiting this shopping, dining and entertainment destination have plenty of new options to satisfy even the most demanding tastes. Disney Style is the latest fashion-forward merchandise spot with a twist. Here, fashionistas find a curated assortment of trendy apparel and accessories inspired by beloved Disney characters and attractions. Tweens looking for a sweet treat can grab a handcrafted, photo-worthy donut at the newly opened Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew.
  10. Relax Outdoors – Central Florida weather is traditionally gorgeous this time of year, and Walt Disney World offers special ways to enjoy outdoor recreation, including miniature golf, fishing expeditions, horseback riding and more.

Have you traveled to Walt Disney World with a tween?
What did they enjoy the most? Please leave a comment!