Now is a perfect time to plan your next trip to Disney World (though if you ask us, it’s almost always a great time to plan your next trip to Disney World!)

But, with so much going on in the parks right now and new discounts just released, your next vacation might be even closer than you think. We’ve rounded up all the hotel and ticket deals you might find around Disney World in April — let’s check them out!

U.S. Military Member Discounts

Ticket Offers

Guess what? Disney World offers discounted tickets to members of the US Military!

To take advantage of this deal, you must be an active or retired member of the US Military, including the National Guard, Reservists, the US Coast Guard, the US Space Force, the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS), and the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) can choose between a 4-day or 5-day Disney Military Salute Ticket (formerly the Disney Military Promotional Ticket).

Spouses of Military Service Members can also qualify for this deal upon presentation of a valid and active military I.D.

Check out the 5-Day Disney Military Salute Ticket 

• With the Park Hopper Option: $369 plus tax
• With the Park Hopper Plus Option: $399 plus tax

And here’s the pricing for the 4-Day Disney Military Salute Ticket 

• With the Park Hopper Option: $349 plus tax
• With the Park Hopper Plus Option: $379 plus tax

But, that’s not where the savings stop.

Specially Priced Hotel Rates

US Military members can also get a discounted rate at select Disney Resort hotels throughout 2023. This deal is available at select Disney World hotels for stays between 1 to 14 nights from January 1st, 2023 to December 15th, 2023.

For additional details on resort availability, booking options, and dates, and to have other questions answered call (407) 939-7830.

Get the Details on Military Hotel Savings Here

Annual Passholder Discounts

Specially Priced Hotel Rates

On most nights through April 30th, 2023, Annual Passholders can save up to 25% off regular room rates at Disney World Resort Hotels. Annual Passholders can also save up to 30% off stays at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort! Read more here.

Passholders can save up to 30% on select Disney World hotel rooms from May 1st to July 10th. Save 30% most nights at:

• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

For 25% off, pick from one of the resorts on the list below:

• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
• Disney Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

You could save 20% on your stay at:

• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort

If you’re staying at the Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground or the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, you could get 15% savings, and 10% off at the Villas at Animal Kingdom Lodge — Jambo House.

Read More About This Deal Here

Passholders can also save on most stays from July 11th to September 28th, 2023. The minimum stay is 1 night and the maximum stay is 14 nights. Several Disney World resorts are eligible for this deal and how much you save depends on the resort that you choose.

You can save 35% at:

• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

You can save 30% at:

• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Family Suites
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter

You’ll be able to save 25% at:

• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Standard Rooms
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

You can save 15% at:

• The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

And you can save 10% at:

• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Learn More About This Deal Here

Florida Resident Discounts

Ticket Offers

Save up to 40% on 4-day tickets and 30% on 3-day tickets compared to the non-Florida Resident price.

Sometimes it does pay to be a Florida Resident!

Read More About the Florida Resident Ticket Deal Here

Florida residents can also take advantage of a deal to purchase a 2-Day Weekday Theme Park ticket for $175 (plus tax). Want a ticket for 3 or 4 days? You can get those at a discount, too, as long as it’s for a weekday.

Tickets are good for travel from now through April 27th — though there are blockout dates, so make sure you check those out before purchasing.

Read About the Florida Resident Weekday Magic Deal Here

Specially Priced Hotel Rates

On most nights from March 1st to April 30th, 2023, Florida Residents can save up to 20% on rooms at select Disney World Resort hotels!

Plus, Florida Residents can save up to 30% off stays at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Read more here!

Read More About This Florida Resident Deal Here

Florida Residents can save up to 30% on select Disney World hotel rooms from May 1st to July 10th. Get the full details here.

Florida residents can also save up to 30% on rooms at certain Disney World hotels for their summer vacations. The offer is valid for stays most nights from July 11th through September 28th, 2023.

You can save 30% on rooms at the following hotels:

• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

You can save 25% on rooms at the following hotels:

• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Family Suites
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

You can save 20% on rooms at the following hotels:

• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Standard Rooms
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

You can save 15% on rooms at the following hotel:

• The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

And you can save 10% on rooms at the following hotels:

• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Learn More About This Deal Here

Other Special Offers

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

Disney has released the first few discounts for the Star Wars hotel!

Annual Passholders, Cast Members, and DVC Members can all save.

Disney Visa Cardmembers

Disney Visa Cardmembers can save up to 25% on Disney hotel stays in early 2023! The offer is valid for select Disney World Resort hotels for stays on certain nights from now through April 30th, 2023, and you must use your Disney Visa Card when booking in order to use the discount.

Save 25% at:

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

Save 20% at:

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Family Suites
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Save 15% at:

• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

And finally, save 10% at:

• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Little Mermaid Standard Rooms
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Read More About the Disney Visa Hotel Deal Here

Disney Hotel Deals

Guests can save up to 25% on stays from April 10th-July 10th. And, at the following resorts, you can save 25% most nights during the window of April 10th-July 10th:

• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Save up to 20% most nights from April 10th-July 10th at:

• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

For 15% off during the same April-July dates, choose one of the following:

• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

And if you would like to stay at the Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground, you can save 10% most nights from April 10th-July 10th.

Learn More About This Deal Here

You might also be able to find savings for stays between July 11th and September 28th, 2023.

At the following hotels, you can save 25% most nights from July 11th to August 20th, and September 15th to September 28th, 2023; you can save 30% most nights from August 21st to September 14th, 2023:

• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

At the following hotels, you can save 20% most nights from July 11th to August 20th, and September 15th to September 28th, 2023; you can save 25% most nights from August 21st to September 14th, 2023:

• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Family Suites
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

At the following hotels, you can save 15% most nights from July 11th to August 20th, and September 15th to September 28th, 2023; you can save 20% most nights from August 21st to September 14th, 2023:

• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Standard Rooms
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

At the following hotels, you can save 10% on most nights from July 11th to September 28th, 2023:

• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Learn More About This Deal Here

We’ve got a great resource to help you SAVE when you plan your NEXT Disney World trip – our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. We wrote our ebook after decades of visiting Disney World, so that we could help you have a stress-free vacation! Click here and use code WDW2023 to get 25% off!

Check out our friends over at Small World Vacations for all your Disney travel planning needs! They can help you plan and stay up to date on the latest information, deals, discounts, and more to make sure that your vacation planning goes smoothly.

Be sure you keep following DFB to see the latest and BEST Disney deals, news, and more!

BIG Changes Are Coming To Disney World in 2023 — See Them Here!

Do you have a 2023 Disney World trip planned? Let us know in the comments.

The post STOP SCROLLING. These Disney World Deals Could Save You Thousands first appeared on the disney food blog.

Though Universal’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval lasts through April 16, the Universal’s Islands of Adventure and CityWalk Mardi Gras booths are now gone.

Universal’s Islands of Adventure

This was the first year there were Mardi Gras booths at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and CityWalk.

Port of Entry in Universal’s Islands of Adventure was home to the Mardi Gras Hits and Mardi Gras Desserts booths.

CityWalk

At CityWalk, guests could enjoy the Taste of the Mediterranean and booths with Cauliflower Dirty Rice, Crawfish Etouffee, Shrimp & Grits, and Yakamein.

Food booths at Universal Studios Florida are still open and available to enjoy for the next two weeks.

Check out our full guide to Universal’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023.

For more Universal Studios news from around the world, follow Universal Parks News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news, visit WDWNT.

The post Mardi Gras Booths Removed from Universal’s Islands of Adventure and CityWalk appeared first on WDW News Today.

Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer Alicia Schwarz has been laid off from The Walt Disney Company amid the first of three rounds of company-wide layoffs.

Chief Compliance Officer Alicia Schwarz

Schwarz’s role will be absorbed by the office of Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel Horacio Gutierrez. According to Deadline, she joined the company in 2014 as principal counsel, later serving as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, as well as Global Deputy Chief Compliance Counsel.

The work she was responsible for included ensuring compliance with Disney’s global ethics and standards of business conduct. She was also in charge of managing regulatory compliance with anti-corruption and trade law. These duties will reportedly be taken over by the office of Gutierrez.

Executives at The Walt Disney Company were asked by CEO Bob Iger to identify thousands of potential layoff candidates in an effort to cut nearly $5.5 billion in costs. Iger is reportedly on “a push for profitability.”

Disney is in the midst of an estimated 7,000 job cuts. These are expected to occur across Disney Entertainment; Parks, Experiences, and Products; and ESPN. CEO Bob Iger is under pressure from investors to increase financial stability due to Disney’s stocks currently standing at roughly half the value they were at during summer 2021. Reducing staff is believed to be a way to possibly help their finances in the short term.

News of the layoffs and significant restructuring of The Walt Disney Company was announced in February. At the time, investors seemed sated; however, Disney’s stock has fallen again in recent weeks. Shares have only seen about a 2% increase in 2023 to date.

The Chief Compliance Officer is not the only high-level corporate role terminated in the current round of layoffs. Check out our coverage below:

• Jeffrey R. Epstein, Longtime Disney VP of Corporate Communications, Laid Off
• Disney CEO Bob Iger Confirms Start of Layoffs This Week, More to Come
• Marvel Entertainment Chairman Isaac ‘Ike’ Perlmutter Laid Off
• Hulu and Freeform Senior Executives Among the First Facing Disney Layoffs This Week

Union Cast Members

These job cuts come just after the announcement of about 32,000 hourly workers at Walt Disney World winning a significant raise following months of union talks and disagreements. The unions held a “Rally for a Raise” before the most recent round of negotiations. The increase is equal to about $3 an hour by the end of the year, and most of these employees will end up with a raise of about 37% of their current pay by 2026. This agreement is held within a tentative five-year labor deal.

The raises for several unionized Cast Member positions are as follows:

• Housekeepers: $17 to $20 immediately, $24 by October 2026
• Dishwashers: $15 to $18 immediately, $22 by October 2026
• Cook 2 (Prep cooks): $16.40 to $20 immediately, $24 by October 2026
• Cook 1 (Line cooks): $19 to $23.10 immediately, $27.10 by October 2026
• Chef Assistant: $20 to $24.60 immediately, $28.60 by October 2026
• Bus Drivers: $18 to $20.50 immediately, $24.50 by October 2026

Iger stated that the layoffs will not affect hourly Cast Members.

What are your thoughts on these corporate layoffs and Disney stocks? We’d love to see your thoughts in the comments below.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post Disney’s Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer Alicia Schwarz Let Go Amidst Company-Wide Layoffs appeared first on WDW News Today.

Going to Walt Disney World can be stressful. The magical difference of WDW is that the parks were created for EVERYONE to enjoy TOGETHER. When we took our first daughter to Disney at seven months old, it was truly a magical experience, and with proper planning, you too can get over the fear of bringing a baby to the parks!

Before I describe my top 5 tips for traveling with a baby at WDW, I would like to preface it with some vital information. First, we live in Chicago, so our experience may differ from those who live locally. We also took our first trip with our daughter in the summer of 2021, while there were some COVID restrictions. Finally, this is not meant to be an end-all-be-all list. I wanted to share my thoughts and experiences to inspire someone else to take that first step to start planning a Disney trip.

• Take advantage of the Rider Switch service
  • This service is pretty easy to use. There are certain attraction restrictions on use, so it is best to check the list before you go. I also found it helpful to ask the cast member directing at the front of the line how the Rider Switch works for their specific attraction.
• Book those Character Dining reservations
  • We enjoyed our character dining at Tusker House and Topolino’s Terrace. Both had significant character interactions, and the food was delicious. Our daughter loved both of these restaurants.
• Try all the rides that have “any height” requirement
  • Our daughter went on every “any height” ride at all four parks. She seemed to enjoy every single one. We had no incidents where we needed to leave the line due to her crying or fussing. The rides she seemed most aware of and engaged in were; Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Na’vi River Journey, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, and Journey Into Imagination With Figment.
• Use the Baby Care Centers in the parks
  • These centers were a lifesaver. Each park has one. It was a nice place to go inside and relax. There are a ton of last-minute or emergency items for purchase while inside as well. It was also a convenient place to quickly warm up a bottle or change a diaper with a little more privacy.
• Book a ‘Capture Your Moment ‘photoshoot
  • We had our photoshoot at Animal Kingdom originally. It was stormy, so we had to cancel. Our ‘Capture Your Moment‘ photoshoot at Magic Kingdom was a success. The Cast Member was very helpful as he escorted us around the park’s central hub/castle area. He had signs that read “First Visit” and other props.

This quick list had a few of my experiences when we traveled for the first time with our daughter. As we continue to travel with her and our newest addition to our family, I am 100% positive the list will change and grow!

Here are some quick honorable mentions that may or may not be obvious; pack stroller accessories like fans/covers, take breaks inside as often as your baby needs, and try to stay on schedule with naps (my daughter was a trooper and took her naps in the stroller), bring a travel stroller to navigate the parks quickly, and don’t forget to pick up their first visit button!

The post Don’t Be Afraid to Bring Your Baby to Walt Disney World! first appeared on DIS.

Disneyland Paris has confirmed that a “new product range” will be replacing Annual Passes. Those with a current Disneyland Paris Annual Pass will be able to renew under their original contract.

Disneyland Paris Annual Pass Program

Yesterday, Disneyland Paris announced they were stopping sales of all Annual Passes. Now they have released more information about the future of the program.

Per the Disneyland Paris website, sales were stopped because “We are always listening to our guests and continually strive to bring new experiences and develop new products which deliver choice, flexibility, and value for our Annual Passholders.

We are currently developing a new product range for our most frequent visitors based on the valuable feedback our Passholders have given us, and as a result, we are pausing sales of new Annual Passes. Therefore our Annual Passes are now only available for renewals for individuals who currently have a valid Annual Pass.

We look forward to sharing more with you later this year.”

Anyone with a current Disneyland Paris Annual Pass is eligible for renewal for a period of two months before the expiration date.

Annual Pass Troubles

This move is not entirely unprecedented, with now four Disney resorts having halted some or all Annual Pass sales following the COVID-19 pandemic. Tokyo Disney Resort fully canceled its Annual Passport program in October 2020, with no replacement in sight despite some hints and allusions over the past three years.

Annual Passes at Walt Disney World went through a similar development to what’s rumored for Paris. New sales were halted almost immediately upon reopening from the COVID-19. At the time, Disney assured guests it was a “temporary” measure due to capacity restrictions at Walt Disney World. In August 2021, Walt Disney World announced an overhaul of their pass system, replacing the four tiers introduced in 2015 with a more confusing character-based system. New passes then went on sale in September 2021, and remained on sale for nearly three months before being suspended in late November. Later, the two middle tiers were briefly on sale last June for a single day before halting again. At this time, only renewals are allowed for existing Annual Passes, except for the lowest tier Pixie Pass, which is only available to Florida Residents and blocks out all weekends and holiday periods. But unlike in California and Tokyo, guests were able to smoothly transition from their old to new pass types upon renewal.

Over at Disneyland, their 16-month closure prompted a “sunset” of their original Annual Pass program, only to be replaced with the Magic Key system, which is essentially the same, but with reservations and blackout dates for even the highest tiers. Those passes have sporadically gone on and off sale, even amid a lawsuit alleging Disney falsely advertised the highest tier as having “no blackout dates” by including a reservation system.

Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland have continued to sell Annual Passes except during their government-mandated closure periods from 2020 to 2022.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post CONFIRMED: Disneyland Paris Annual Pass Program To Be Replaced With New ‘Product Range’ appeared first on WDW News Today.