The 50th Anniversary Celebration of Disney World is coming to a close.

The celebration officially ends on March 31st, and while we will have to say goodbye to some of the additions we loved we do have some good news about what’s to come! Happily Ever After is RETURNING to Magic Kingdom, and that means changes to fireworks dessert parties. These updated experiences are available to book now, so let’s take a look at the options.

If you were hoping to book a fireworks dessert party, in the near future, there are a few changes happening that you need to be aware of. March 31st will be the last day to experience the existing 50th Anniversary-themed fireworks dessert parties in Magic Kingdom. On April 1st, these change to more “generic” fireworks dessert parties.

On April 1st and 2nd, these will feature views of Disney Enchantment as the fireworks show. But starting April 3rd, they’ll be offered with views of Happily Ever After.

There are 3 options:

1. Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties: Pre-Party (where you have dessert first and then are escorted to a fireworks viewing area in the Plaza Garden)
2. Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties: Seats & Sweets (where you have dessert and then view the fireworks from the patio of Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant)
3. Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties: Post-Party (where you watch the fireworks from a special viewing area in the Plaza Garden and then go enjoy desserts after)

During these events, you’ll find desserts such as chocolate-dipped strawberries and chocolate silk tarts, a variety of cheeses, and beverages including beer and wine for guests of age.

Prices for these events are as follows:

1. Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties: Pre-Party — $99 for adults, $59 for children
2. Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties: Seats & Sweets — $114 for adults, $69 for children
3. Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties: Post-Party — $99 for adults, $59 for children

So, if you’re excited about the return of Happily Ever After and want to enjoy it with a nice view and snacks, make sure you book soon — reservations for these more “generic” (non-50th) fireworks dessert parties opened on March 23rd, so you can get booking NOW.

You’ll visit the Disney World websites for each of these parties and then check availability for the dates you want to visit.

Reservations for the Happily Ever After Fireworks Parties are available online via the Walt Disney World website through the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Pre- arty page, the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Seats & Sweets Page, or the Magic Kingdom Fireworks After-Party page.

We were lucky enough to be invited to a media event preview of the new Happily Ever After, so if you can’t wait until April 3rd to see it — you can watch it here.

We’ll be there on opening night, bringing you all the latest updates, so stay tuned to DFB for more!

Click here to find out how Happily Ever After has CHANGED

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Have you ever been to a fireworks dessert party in Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Reservations Now OPEN for Happily Ever After Fireworks Dessert Parties in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.

A NEW version of The Little Mermaid will be released soon, but it won’t be exactly the same as the classic version you remember.

For starters, this version will be live-action, featuring Halle Bailey as Ariel. Bailey has already discussed just how different this movie is when compared to the original, including how they’ve changed a bit about why Ariel wants to leave the ocean. Recently, Bailey made her way to Disney World for a very special event and we got the chance to speak with her. Curious to know what she had to say? Read on!

Bailey recently appeared in Magic Kingdom as part of her participation in the Disney Dreamers Academy event that is taking place in Disney World this weekend.

Not familiar with the event? It’s a mentoring program that takes place at Disney World and brings 100 students from around the country to experience a weekend centered around their careers and futures.

During the weekend, the students get to participate in workshops “aligned with their dreams,” learn about diverse career paths, learn about leadership, and more. The whole program is dedicated to supporting diverse communities and encouraging the next generation to dream big.

Past Dreamers have gone on to become doctors, artists, entrepreneurs, and much more. Bailey actually serves as the celebrity ambassador for this year’s event so she will be working as a mentor and advocate for the participants. She spoke at the start of the Dreamers event and also participated in a pre-parade in Magic Kingdom.

After the parade, we got the chance to speak with her for a minute and hear her thoughts about being amongst the Dreamers. Bailey shared that she was “so excited” to be with the Dreamers. According to Bailey, the Dreamers are “so talented, they know what they want for their future, they’re so passionate.” Bailey went on to say, “I’m inspired by them honestly.”

For her, it seems the highlights are being in the midst of these “amazing individuals” and “having fun” because they are at Disney World, after all! You can see the full clip of her speaking below.

We spoke to Halle Bailey today about her excitement behind becoming a Disney princess and being amongst this group of Disney Dreamers. #ddaDisney #Be100 #WaltDisneyWorld pic.twitter.com/6p2NEFaRLL

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) March 23, 2023

In response to a question about dealing with negativity surrounding the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid and her advice to those Dreamers who may also be facing adversity, Bailey said “stay strong and keep going…You work hard for your dreams, you know how talented you are…don’t let the naysayers or any of the negativity get to you at all.”

She said that surrounding herself with her family and those who remind her that she’s doing something she’s proud of is when she feels her best and advised the Dreamers to remember that they’ve “got this, and don’t worry about no negativity.”

Bailey was also asked what she hopes people get out of the new Little Mermaid film. She said that she hopes people enjoy the movie and that it brings back the “nostalgic, fun” feeling they had when they first watched the original film.

She went on to say, “I’m just so excited to create a new version of Ariel that all of us black and brown babies and students and adults will be able to see. Representation is so important. And we deserve to be in spaces like these as well.”

At another point, Bailey was asked about whether she’s had time to really sit with the reality that she is living the dream of so many to become a real Disney princess. She shared that she’s still working on how to “savor it” and take it all in.

According to Bailey, this is a “whirlwind dream” for her. She shared, “I’ve loved The Little Mermaid since I was a little girl, and now, at times, it feels very surreal to know that I am the new Ariel.” She shared that it is all about “focusing in,” “being grateful,” remembering that she “wouldn’t be anywhere without God,” and taking it all in stride.

The Disney Dreamers event continues through Sunday. And Bailey isn’t alone. She’ll be joined by other celebrity participants including H.E.R., Marsai Martin, Jalyn Hall, Dominique Thorne, and Priah Ferguson.

Plus, there will be other speakers at the event — including some Disney executives and Cast Members, leaders from the community, and business executives, to help inspire the Dreamers.

We hope the Dreamers truly get to benefit from all the workshops and sessions about communication, networking, and more. Congratulations to those participating! For more Disney news, stay tuned to us here at DFB.

Click here to get the NEW Halle Bailey “Little Mermaid” doll on Amazon!

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Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. We were invited by Disney World to attend the Disney Dreamers Academy as media. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ

The post “We Deserve to Be in Spaces Like These as Well” — Celebrity Halle Bailey Comments on Being Disney’s NEW Ariel first appeared on the disney food blog.

The Disney Wish has debuted a new Oogie Boogie dance party for adults only. We received the details from Kevin Stone, @bighousecomics on Twitter.

Cast Members said this was the first time this event was hosted on any Disney Cruise Line ship. It was at 10:00 p.m. in the Hero Zone, where the “Incredi-Games” are hosted, on deck 12 of the Disney Wish.

Guests were first taken into a room next to the Hero Zone with a bar and an Oogie Boogie pumpkin. The room’s screens displayed a full moon. A woman then entered, calling the guests fellow “curiosity seekers.” She’s been looking for “The Boogie Man” for years and the guests in attendance could help her summon him. They called upon other Disney Villains, who appeared on the screens, and drew upon their bad energy to summon Oogie Boogie.

Then Oogie’s face appeared on the full moon and he taunted the Cast Member and guests before everyone was directed into the Hero Zone. It was decorated with Oogie Boogie banners and his roulette wheel on the giant screen. Oogie Boogie himself welcomed guests to the party and a DJ started up music.

The event then turned into a dance party, with different Disney Villains appearing on screen. Oogie Boogie and his new henchman danced and interacted with guests, including teaching everyone an Electric Boogie-like dance.

We don’t know if this Oogie Boogie event will be available on every cruise going forward. It may have been a test experience that could change in the future or evolve into a Halloween event. Disney Cruise Line’s Halloween on the High Seas events usually includes special meet and greets — like Minnie and friends dressed as the Sanderson Sisters — Halloween craft activities, themed treats, and Mickey’s Mouse-querade deck show/dance party.

Oogie Boogie is the main villain featured during Disneyland Resort Halloween celebrations with Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure.

Do you want to dance with Oogie Boogie aboard the Disney Wish? Let us know in the comments!

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The post Disney Wish Cruise Ship Debuts New 18+ Oogie Boogie Dance Party appeared first on WDW News Today.

Merchandise from Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval 2023 at Universal Orlando Resort is now 30% off.

The discount is available on “select” Mardi Gras merchandise.

We found Mardi Gras merchandise still available at Universal Studios Store and Universal Legacy Store in CityWalk.

The 30% discount applies to the bottle carriers. Freestyle Mardi Gras tumblers are now $21.99. They were originally $28.99.

Mardi Gras beads, which were originally $6, are now $3.99 each.

Apparel, candles, mugs, keychains, bags, and more are still available.

Will you be getting any 2023 Mardi Gras merchandise at a discount? Let us know in the comments.

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 2023 Merchandise Discounted at Universal Orlando Resort appeared first on WDW News Today.