It’s not every day that Walt Disney World fans get to step into a brand-new Disney experience. Thankfully, I, along with Craig and Kylie Williams, on behalf of The DIS, had the chance to attend the Media Voyage of the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser this week. If you’re planning a trip aboard the Halcyon and you’re wondering what this new Disney experience looks like, I thought that we might take a look around.

First things first: as per DIS policy, I won’t be reviewing the environment or the experience had during the Media Voyage. We do not review that for which we have not paid. Many thanks to Disney for inviting us onboard the Halcyon.

Secondly, I wanted to say again that we’re about to take a pictorial tour of the Starcruiser. If you don’t want to have the interior of the ship and/or who might be onboard spoiled, this article’s might not be for you.

Now that we’ve laid the groundwork, let’s take a tour of the ship!

Your adventure begins at the Chandrila Star Line terminal. If you drove, as soon as you pull up out front, a member of the valet team will take down your vehicle’s information as members of the Passenger Services team gather up your luggage for the voyage. It’s important to note that all cars are valet parked during each stay. Gratuities for the valet team are not included in the overall cost of your stay on the Starcruiser, so you might want to throw tip money in your carry-on luggage for the end of the voyage.

As happens aboard Disney Cruise Line, your luggage will be checked with Passenger Services and will appear in your cabin later in the afternoon. Guests are asked to keep medication and important paperwork with them.

Each guest will be given a special Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser MagicBand and will be instructed to wear the MagicBand at all times during their voyage. It’s an important part of the experience aboard the Halcyon, as well as during the stop at Batuu.

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After passing through security, guests proceed down the hall toward an illuminated Chandrila Star Line logo. Guests are then shown a safety video and escorted to the transport pod.

Once aboard the transport pod, guests can watch their ascent to the Halcyon through viewports near the ceiling.

The transport pods are “loaded onto” the Halcyon, and guests then enter the ship’s Atrium on Deck 6.

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As you would expect, the Atrium is quite large. There’s ample seating clad in a rich burgundy velveteen found throughout the space, as well as a model of the ship, and two-story tall video screens. If you’re needing to charge up a device (which you likely will at some point during your voyage because checking your Datapad is vital for keeping up to speed on the storylines that are unfolding), you’ll find outlets and USB ports built into the banquette seating.

Major story moments occur in the ship’s Atrium. Guests will find themselves in the middle of a living story throughout the cruise in this large space, and characters move through and meet with guests in the Atrium quite often. It’s the hub of every voyage.

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The Bridge is found to the left as guests step off of the transport pod and into the Atrium. Each guest will spend time during their voyage in the Bridge as they learn how to operate the different consoles.

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Those wishing to enjoy an afternoon or evening snack will want to stop by the Concierge desk found along one side of the atrium. This is a one-stop shop of sorts; if you have any questions or special request, you’ll want to visit this spot and speak to a Passenger Services crew member.

It’s also good to know that while there is not a FuelRod kiosk on board, Passenger Services crew members have a supply of FuelRods charged and ready for guests. They’re able to swap out the portable chargers for you at the Concierge desk, and they’ll even have a supply of them on Batuu if you need to swap one during your visit.

If you’re looking for a drink, you’ll find the Sublight Lounge across the Atrium from the Concierge desk.

Guests will find an electronic Sabacc table in the center of the space, and those wanting to learn how to play Sabacc with traditional cards outside of the formal lesson scheduled on their itinerary can request a deck and a quick lesson from one of the Sublight Lounge crew members.

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If you’re wanting to do a little shopping, The Chandrila Collection is located in the back right corner of the Atrium. You’ll find everything from costume elements to high-end jewelry to trading pins for sale, including a lightsaber hilt that can be personalized.

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The items available for purchase in The Chandrila Collection are exclusive to the ship and will be found nowhere else on Walt Disney World property. If you see it and like it, my suggestion is that you buy it. Disney Vacation Club and Annual Passholder discounts can be used on purchases (except for the lightsaber) in the shop.

Guest cabins can be found on decks 4, 5, and 7.

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The cabin that we were given for the Media Voyage was a standard cabin, and featured a queen-sized bed, two bunks built into the bedroom wall, a well-appointed bathroom, a vanity, and ample storage for luggage.

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An adult can fit in the bunk beds, and each bunk has its own light that pops out from the wall.

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It’s worth noting for passengers who need access to a bathtub that there are no bathtubs onboard the Starcruiser. While the shower stall was spacious, I know that this information is important for those traveling with children or those who simply favor a bath over a shower.

Each cabin features a viewport that provides you with a glimpse into what’s happening outside. Guests can either have the viewport on or turn it off. Craig discovered that it cannot be left on without the colored lights surrounding the window frame also being on. If those colored lights are a bit too bright for you at night, you’ll need to turn off the screen entirely.

At this time, each cabin is equipped with a communications panel that allows you to connect with D3-09, the ship’s logistics droid. Simply speak, and D3-09 will respond with helpful tips and suggestions, and perhaps a bedtime story or two. We’ve heard that the D3-09 functionality might be changing for future voyages; we’ll keep you updated if it does.

Down on Deck 4, guests will find the Engineering Room, the Cargo Hold, and the Brig, all of which may play a part in your voyage.

Also on Deck 4, you’ll find the Crown of Corellia dining room, which hosts a buffet for breakfast and lunch, as well as two themed dinners. The foundation colors of the area remain somewhat neutral while the chandeliers feature pops of bright colors.

The Captain’s Table is found in the center of the large room, and a stage sits at one end. The dining room is also used for a Sabacc Tournament on Day 2 of the voyage.

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The Lightsaber Training Pod is found on Deck 4 as well. Each guest will have the opportunity while on board to take part in a training session, and the markings on the floor are to instruct passengers on where to stand while in the room.

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The Transport Dock to and from Batuu is located at the end of the hall on Deck 4. Guests should keep in mind that the wait for the next transport could take 15 to 20 minutes. The ride to Batuu in the windowless transport takes about 8 minutes and can be bumpy.

Guests wanting a bit of fresh air can spend time in the Climate Simulator, also found on Deck 4. Hydroponic plants cover the walls of the open air simulator, and quiet music plays.

The Starcruiser’s storyline is that the Halcyon is celebrating its 275th anniversary and has just undergone an extensive renovation. The areas are clean and bright and richly appointed, as you might expect a luxury liner to be.

One last note: if you’re planning a stay aboard the Halcyon, I highly recommend looking over the deck plans before your voyage. Being familiar with the ship will help you as you begin your story onboard.

Have questions about the Starcruiser? Drop them in the comments section below!

If you’d like a spoiler-free overview of our Starcruiser experience, check out the video below:

If you’d like to watch our experience onboard the Media Voyage (spoilers and all), check out the video below:

As always, the expert travel agents Dreams Unlimited Travel are here to help you plan your next Disney vacation, including voyages aboard the Galactic Starcruiser. Reach out to them to request your free, no-obligation quote.

What’s better than going on a Disney vacation? How about saving money on a Disney vacation?!

With Disney Parks pricing continuing to increase, it’s great to find ways to save on hotels, tickets, and more, and now certain AAA members can save money on Disneyland Resort tickets!

If you live in Southern California and you’re a AAA member, you have a BIG opportunity to save up to 40% on Disneyland tickets!

AAA members who are also Southern California residents can save on three-day, weekday-only Disneyland tickets through May 26th, 2022! It’s actually a better savings than some Disneyland SoCal Resident Ticket packages, which cost about $67 a day for the cheapest 3-day weekday only package. On the flip side, this AAA 3-Day 1-Park Ticket Package costs $179, which breaks down to about $60 per day.

There are four AAA Disneyland ticket packages to choose from, and this AAA 3-Day Park Hopper Package totals $239. It includes the park hopper option so that you can bounce between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, and it would break down to about $80 per day.

If you want to include the Genie+ service, which is $20 per day per person in Disneyland Resort, you can get this AAA 3-Day 1-Park Package for $239. You’d be paying about $80 per day with this option, which includes the cost of Genie+!

The most expensive package is the AAA 3-Day Park Hopper with Genie+ for $299 per person, and this one includes both the park hopper option AND Genie+! This breaks down to about $100 per day.

These tickets are valid only on weekdays and they expire on May 26th, 2022, which means you could use them to see the returning Main Street Electrical Parade, Disneyland Forever fireworks (on Fridays), and the World of Color show, all of which return to Disneyland Resort on April 22nd. Or catch Mickey’s Mix Magic Fireworks on weekdays!

You must be an AAA member to qualify for these tickets, and you must also be a Southern California resident (zip codes 90000 to 93599) or a Northern Baja California resident (zip codes 21000-22999). You also need a park reservation in addition to your ticket, so make sure you check Disneyland’s calendar before buying your tickets!

Buy your tickets and check out the 2022 Food & Wine Festival next week in Disney California Adventure! Keep reading DFB for more Disney World and Disneyland news!

Disneyland President says park pass reservations might be here to stay.

Are you planning a Disneyland trip? Tell us in the comments!

The post Select AAA Members Can Save BIG on Disneyland Tickets for a Limited Time! first appeared on the disney food blog.

If you’re visiting Disney World soon, there’s now one MORE thing to add to your to-do (or rather, to-see) list.

Little by little, more things have been reopening and returning to the parks. Parades are set to come back to Magic Kingdom soon, and Fantasmic! is set to reopen later this year. But today, another offering came back to the Most Magical Place on Earth, and this time it’s a bit different!

An updated stage show called Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire debuted TODAY in Magic Kingdom and we’re taking you along with us. Here’s what you need to know about this show before your next visit.

If you’re looking for Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire, you’ll want to head to the Cinderella Castle Stage (the stage in front of the castle itself) during the available showtimes. The show will be performed multiple times a day. Show times can vary, so be sure to check the My Disney Experience app or Disney website during your trip. On its opening date, showtimes were at 12:15PM, 1:30PM, 2:45PM, 4:35PM, and 6:10PM.

The show is very much the same as the previous stage show that was available (Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire), but it has received some updates and new enhancements, like a BRAND new, original song called Where the Magic Feels Like Home.

The show starts with a brand NEW opening that features Mickey Mouse and friends in their 50th Anniversary EARidescent outfits!

Then throughout the show you’ll see musical numbers and other pieces of the show performed by fan-favorite Disney characters and other performers in new outfits for the 50th.

There are scenes inspired by Tangled…

…where vikings come out to dance as well as Rapunzel and Flynn Rider.

And, we get to see Donald as a viking!!

We’re HERE for viking Donald
Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire debuted today! pic.twitter.com/Ivhv2CWXs2

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) February 25, 2022

There are also scenes inspired by The Princess and the Frog.

Tiana, Naveen, AND Louis are there!

And, Louis even plays a trumpet solo!

We also get to see Goofy dancing with everyone!

The revamped Magic Kingdom Castle Show!!
Mickey’s MagicalFriendship Faire started today! pic.twitter.com/Rh240Lv72X

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) February 25, 2022

He becomes the star of the show for a few moments thanks to his tambourine!

The characters from Frozen also make an appearance!

At the end of the show, Mickey and friends will join in with the other characters for a brand new version of the finale!

We get to see ALL of the characters interacting at once.

Then, we see fireworks to cap off the show!

If you’ve seriously missed castle stage shows, then you’ll likely love this one! It’s basically just a modified/enhanced version of the one that previously was here with some new character appearances!

It may be hard to remember what having a stage show in the park even feels like after it being gone for so long (though we did have some limited stage shows for things like the holidays). This stage show adds some more energy and movement to this general area throughout the day, which can be exciting!

BUT remember that the addition of the stage show means you may also find some more crowds congregated in front of the castle than you might have gotten used to over the past few months. It also means that the walkway through the castle will likely be closed at select times during the day to allow for the performances to happen. So be sure to keep that in mind as you make your way to Magic Kingdom.

If seeing this stage show is a MUST for you, mark it down in your calendars and check it out the next time you’re in the park!

We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates all around Disney World and we’ll let you know what we find. Stay tuned for all the latest Disney news!

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Will you be seeing this stage show soon? Tell us in the comments!

The post PHOTOS & VIDEOS: FIRST LOOK at the Updated Stage Show in Magic Kingdom! first appeared on the disney food blog.

We know that many of our readers love collecting Disney pins!

They’re easy to carry around during a long park day, you can add them to ANY outfit or bag, and you can TRADE THEM! Pin-trading is extremely common around the Disney parks, with guests and Cast Members alike participating. But — we recently found out about a Disney pin that you can’t buy and we’re telling you all about it!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is unlike any other Disney theme park — and that’s all thanks to the animals! With so much focus on caring for creatures, it’s no wonder that Animal Kingdom would also want to educate guests about caring for the environment as well. 

One of the people behind animal care is Dr. Mark Penning, the Vice President of Disney Animals, Science, and Environment!

He recently posted on his Instagram page about the Environmental Hero Pin — reserved for those Disney guests who “help protect the planet by shopping with reusable bags, or choosing to take no bag at all, trying plant-based and sustainable seafood options while dining or placing your trash and recyclables in the right bin.”

Sounds like a pretty cool way to become a hero! Bring your reusable water bottle and shopping bags next time you’re at Disney World and you just might be awarded this exclusive pin! 

Check out more information below!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dr. Mark Penning (@drmarkatdisney)

We’re always looking out for the latest ways Disney is bringing magic into their guests’ lives. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more updates and Disney news!

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How do you help care for the environment when you’re at Disney? Let us know in the comments!

The post Find Out How to Get This Rare Disney’s Animal Kingdom Pin! first appeared on the disney food blog.