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Are you looking to sail on a Disney Cruise Line ship? With the newest ship on the fleet, the Disney Wish, now available, sailing with Disney has never looked better. Luckily, there is a way you can actually make some money back from your trip as onboard cruise credit!

Thanks to our friends at Be Our Guest Vacations, we are able to share the exciting news that you can actually earn some money back on your Disney Cruise Line vacation. Depending on the cost of your cruise, you will be able to earn between $25 to $1000 as on-board credit. Booking with Be Our Guest Vacations is also 100% free, and only relieves any stress you may have when it comes to booking a DCL trip.

Are you unsure what port would work best? What Disney shows your family would enjoy? What stops you want to experience during your cruise? What deck and room suits your needs based on location, noise, and size? What dining options you should take advantage of? What add-ons you should include from ship experiences to excursions? These are just a few questions that future DCL guests may have, on top of needing to figure out all of the logistics from checking in one month out to knowing what documentation you will need to bring to sail. Figuring all of this out on your own may seem daunting, and when you are spending so much of your time and money to experience a magical vacation, missing out on key elements because you did not know about it or you were too late to take advantage of it is not very magical.

The travel agents at Be Our Guest Vacations will go above and beyond when it comes to doing all that they can to ensure you are ready, have all the information, and do what they can to customize your trip to what you want to do. Throw in free money on top of that? This is certainly an offering that you need to take advantage of.

Plus, there has never been a better time to sail! Disney Cruise Line is currently celebrating 25 years of sailing, having been founded in 1995 but setting out on its first voyage in 1998. The cruise line currently has five ships for you to choose from: Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish. In the future, the Disney Treasure and another unnamed ship will be available, as well as the recently acquired Global Dream, which will be renamed.

Why sail during the Silver Anniversary? Well, Mickey and Minnie are wearing new shimmering teal and white costumes for the anniversary celebration. The rest of their friends also have new costumes. Guests will also be invited to join the ship’s captain and cruise director on one evening of each cruise for a special anniversary toast. They will be joined by Captain Mickey and Captain Minnie in their new Silver Anniversary at Sea outfits and the toast will feature the anniversary’s new theme song. Learn more on that here.

You can prepare to enjoy Rapunzel’s Royal Table, Animator’s Palate, Lumiere’s, Tiana’s Place, Triton’s, Enchanted Garden, Royal Palace, Royal Court, Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure, Worlds of Marvel – “Avengers: Quantum Encounter”, 1923, Palo, and more! All of the dining on the Disney Cruise Line ships will leave you with memories to last a lifetime, and meals you will want to eat again. Kids can also get excited to explore Andy’s Room, Marvel Super Hero Academy, and Disney Junior, among other fun activities and locations!

Additionally, Disney Cruise Line has announced their summer 2024 itineraries, which include the first sailings to Lighthouse Point, a new private Disney destination on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas! So if you want to enjoy added cash on that cruise, Be Our Guest Vacations can hook you and get you started!

To add to the excitement, MagicBand+ is now available for select Disney Cruise Line guests to purchase online before their upcoming sailings. MagicBand+ will be known as DisneyBand+ on Disney Cruise Line and will be available for Disney Wish sailings beginning June 12. Click here to learn more, and if you want all the details handled for you, Be Our Guest Vacations can take care of that planning.

Are you looking to take a Disney Cruise Line vacation? You can have the most magical and stress-free Disney Cruise Line vacation if you book through Be Our Guest Vacations. They are Disney experts and will be able to create the most magical trip at the best price possible. Click here to begin planning!

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We bring you a lot of stories every single day. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up. So in case you missed anything from our feed, we have rounded up all our stories in one place to get the news at a glance. Here is your Daily Recap for Saturday, May 27, 2023.

Walt Disney World

EPCOT

• Come try the new Fanta Banana slush we found today at the newly-reopened Refreshment Station in World Discovery.
• Lots of updates as construction continues at the center of World Celebration and the parking lot around EPCOT.
• There’s also some news of the refurbishment work in the Morocco Pavilion, with workers now starting to refurbish the courtyard area.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• We tried the new Bubbles by the Sea drink inspired by “The Little Mermaid,” come read our thoughts!

New Merchandise

• We found a new Mickey Pride candle holder and glasses today around Walt Disney World.
• There’s also a new Black Spire Outpost ball cap available on Batuu.

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

• The walkway between the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has now reopened.
• Work continues on The Cake Bake Shop as painting continues around the structure.

Other Walt Disney World Resort News

• New digital signage is now in place on Buena Vista Drive near Disney’s Riviera Resort.

Disneyland Resort

• There’s a brand-new Finding Nemo Spirit Jersey we found at the World of Disney Store in Downtown Disney.
• We also found the elusive chocolate-dipped churro ear headband at Disneyland.
• The Disneyland Monorail, Alice in Wonderland, and Soarin’ Around the World will all go down for refurbishment starting July 5.

That’s it for today; we hope you enjoyed this Daily Recap. Thanks for stopping by, and we’ll see you tomorrow!

The post Walkway Between Magic Kingdom & Grand Floridian Reopens, Disneyland Monorail, Alice in Wonderland, and Soarin’ Around the World Closing for Refurbishment This Summer, & More: Daily Recap (5/27/23) appeared first on WDW News Today.

The Disney-Pandora sand sculpture at Disney Springs promoting the live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” is complete!

The base of the sand sculpture reads Disney X Pandora, since the jewelry company has a close relationship with Disney.

On one side we see Melissa McCarthy’s Ursula alongside Floatsam and Jetsam, ominously lit from below.

She waers the shell necklace which eventually contains Ariel’s voice.

On the other side, we see mermaid-form Ariel portrayed by Halle Bailey, bursting out of the water. Or sand, in this case.

The side profile also shows off her tail fin and Flounder.

A treasure chest in the corner shows off the “Little Mermaid-“themed accessories available from Pandora like a shell necklace.

Sebastian also makes a cameo as a crab near the bottom.

Other signs like the Pandora logo and the seashell are part of the sculpture.

The other two corners also show off other film-themed Pandora merchandise.

Live-Action ‘The Little Mermaid’

Oscar-nominated Rob Marshall, known for his work with “Chicago” and Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns,” directs “The Little Mermaid.” The remake stars Halle Bailey as mermaid princess Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian the crab, Awkwafina as diving bird Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, Javier Bardem as King Triton, and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula. Noma Dumezweni will portray the new character Queen Selina, Eric’s mother.

The full trailer debuted during the Oscars, and a teaser trailer was released in April. Alan Menken, who wrote the score for the original 1989 “The Little Mermaid,” made some lyrical updates for the live-action remake, with help from Lin-Manuel Miranda.

“The Little Mermaid” released in theaters on May 26, 2023. Bailey and Jodi Benson, who voiced the animated Ariel, united at the film’s premiere.

This wasn’t the first time that Bailey and Benson had interacted. According to the LA Times, Benson makes an on-land cameo in the film and was on set for the filming of “The Little Mermaid.” Benson was a source of on-set support for Bailey. “She told me how proud she was of me and how I’m handling everything, and encouraged me to just go for it,” Bailey said regarding Benson. “I appreciate her for being so warm and welcoming to me because she’s the GOAT, and it was important to me to get her stamp of approval.”

Take a look at some of the live-action-inspired merchandise for “The Little Mermaid” now available at Walt Disney World Resort:

• New Live Action ‘The Little Mermaid’ MagicBand+ at Walt Disney World
• Live Action ‘Little Mermaid’ Loungefly Mini Backpack Available at Walt Disney World
• PHOTOS: New Merchandise With Prices For ‘The Little Mermaid’ Live Action Remake in Walt Disney World

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

The post PHOTOS: ‘The Little Mermaid’ Live Action Pandora Sand Sculpture Now Complete at Disney Springs appeared first on WDW News Today.

For a few months now, the Morocco Pavilion in World Showcase at EPCOT has been going through some exterior refurbishments. Most notably, the replica of the national treasure Nejjarine Fountain has been behind planters for quite some time to accommodate a crane. So we checked in at Morocco to see the latest.

After the scrims came down recently on the front side of the structure, we figured there would still be a bit more repainting left to do. But it seems the front area will remain with this two-tone look.

Within the plaza, one planter with bench space has its corner blocked off for work, presumably to fix guest-induced damage.

Considering the state of another part of the planter, this seems well overdue.

Back at the Nejjarine Fountain, we were able to hear the water running in the fountain itself, but the planters remained up to cover the equipment being stored.

The right-hand area of the courtyard is also currently behind planters, covering up a permanent flower bed like the one we saw earlier. Presumably this one also needs to be fixed up after years of damage.

The original Nejjarine Fountain is located in Fez, a city in Morocco, as part of the Funduq al-Najjarin, a traditional rest house built in the 18th century as part of the city’s Medina old town. Having been in constant use since its construction, it’s designated as a landmark in Morocco. The Funduq al-Najjarin has since been transformed into the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts, welcoming visitors to Fez and introducing the history of traditional carpentry in Morocco.

Morocco Pavilion Takeover

Back in 2020, Disney took over ownership of the Morocco Pavilion following a legal dispute with the pavilion’s operators, who ran the food and merchandise outlets within including Restaurant Marrakesh. In April 2020, Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant, LLC. filed for a PPP loan of $1-2 million in order to retain 260 jobs through the funds acquired. In September, Walt Disney World filed a UCC Financing Statement, or a type of lien with the state, claiming collateral against “All goods, inventory, the Furnishings, and all other items of personal property belonging to Debtor which are or may be put into the Facilities and all proceeds of the foregoing.” With Walt Disney World poised to take over the pavilion in case of a default or bankruptcy, things seem to be going downhill internally.

Finally, the company took operation of the pavilion entirely, which until then was one of the few independently operated World Showcase pavilions. The Moroccan Embassy and Morocco Tourism Board have continued their involvement with the pavilion as cultural consultants.

Since then, there have been various construction projects throughout the Morocco Pavilion. A certain suggestive photo spot was removed. The central courtyard and fountain were refurbished with new pavement in 2021.

Spice Road Table received new decorations and a revamped menu. Last summer, a permit was filed for Restaurant Marrakesh, which is next to the Nejjarine fountain replica. It was most recently open as a seating area back in July of 2021. Restaurant operations have been closed since March 2020.

Souk-Al-Magreb went through a series of strange closures, finally reopening in May 2022. It originally reopened with “Aladdin” merchandise in December 2020, then closed for another refurbishment in October 2021. It was slated to reopen in February 2022 but was ultimately delayed to May 2022.

What do you think of the Morocco Pavilion’s new look? Let us know in the comments.

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

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The final elements of a multi-year expansion and renovation of EPCOT continue to make progress, as both CommuniCore Hall in World Celebration and Journey of Water Inspired by Moana in World Nature take shape. Construction in the EPCOT parking lot is also moving along. Let’s take a look.

CommuniCore Hall and World Celebration Updates

Previously, yellow sheathing was seen added to the exterior of the complex, and now almost completely ensconces the entire perimeter.

This area behind Spaceship Earth (previously utilized for CommuniCore and Innoventions) is the last large park space still closed off, and it is also intended to be the primary themed walking grounds for World Celebration. Workers can be seen traversing the scaffolding and finalizing the foundational elements of the structure.

Temporary tents and picnic tables can be seen beyond the construction wall providing workers a place to take breaks and eat meals.

This corner of the building is the last to show the metal framework underneath.

When World Celebration is complete, it will serve as the primary hub for the entire park, with new nighttime lights, exhibition spaces, music venues, and room for food kiosks intended to expand festival opportunities at EPCOT and promote an ethos of community. This will all be split between CommuniCore Hall, a flexible indoor space, and CommuniCore Plaza — an outdoor event space. A new Mickey & Friends character meet-and-greet is also set to debut.

The official Disney Parks Blog offers an overview of this entire area’s atmosphere once finished:

World Celebration will offer a beautiful hub divided into several different gardens, with a central planter based on the five-ring EPCOT logo. Filled with ample seating and shade, you’ll be invited to connect with one another and the nature around you in this lush new area. Each of these gardens will have their own identities, and they’ll change along with the festivals throughout the year.

A new statue will also be installed in an area known as Dreamers Point, with Walt Disney resting upon some steps and gazing upon the final idea he conceived and began developing before his passing.

Journey of Water Inspired by Moana

Not so far away from this site, Journey of Water Inspired by Moana is making strong headway. Major milestones have continued to pour in during recent months, as Disney posted a TikTok video that shares detailed glimpses of the attraction’s running water features for the first time up close.

A portable dumpster has arrived near the entrance of the attraction as crews begin clean-up efforts around the area.

The water features will be controlled from this station covered by these two metal awnings and surrounded by green fencing. Right now, the station is completely visible, but with more trees and foliage, it will probably be mostly hidden from guest view — at least, on the ground. It may still be visible from the Monorail.

“Along with Moana as a steward of water conservation, Te Fiti is a symbol of how we should protect and nurture water wherever we find it,” Reid Ekman, Lead Concept Designer at Walt Disney Imagineering, wrote on Disney Parks Blog.

This is an important theme in Journey of Water, where guests will learn more about how water travels from our skies to the ocean, and back again. This story will unfold along a lush trail inspired by the environments and art style of the beloved Walt Disney Animation Studios film.

Journey of Water is a walk-through attraction that is aiming for a Fall 2023 grand opening.

Other EPCOT Construction

A construction crane and workers can be seen on the dirt track in the parking lot of EPCOT.

This area of the parking lot could potentially become a ride share area in the future.

Which recent EPCOT addition have you been most excited about? Let us know in the comments.

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Today the Refreshment Station reopened in World Discovery at EPCOT. We stopped by to see for ourselves what the new Fanta Banana slushie tastes like.

Refreshment Station

They newly refurbished Refreshment Station near Test Track is sporting the red and silver palette we’ve seen throughout the World Discovery neighborhood.

Under the shade of the Refreshment Station there are several permanent tables with bench seating for guests to recharge with a cold slushie.

The two slushy options at this stand are a frozen Coca-Cola for $5.25, and a Fanta Banana slushy topped with caramel and blueberries for $6.00

The menu boards have an image of a bubbling slushy and bright white text.

Fanta Banana — $6.00

Frozen Fanta Banana slushie, topped with caramel and blueberries

If you’re not in the mood for Fanta Banana you can also get Frozen Coca-Cola.

While the drink is semi-refreshing since it is a slushie, it is so overwhelmingly artificial that it’s hard to enjoy. It tastes like someone took one of the odd soda flavors from Club Cool and created a slushie out of it. The drink smelled similar to banana “Laffy Taffy”. It has a slight banana taste, but you mostly taste carbonation. Unfortunately taking a sip leaves you with a strange aftertaste.

There was caramel in there too, but we couldn’t taste it. The blueberries on top tasted like frozen blueberries from a grocery store. Not tasty at all.

Overall, we would never get this again. People who absolutely love soda or artificial banana flavor might like it. If you’re stopping at the new Refreshment Station for a slushie, you’re better off getting Frozen Coca-Cola.

Other Construction at EPCOT

Several other major construction projects are currently taking place at this park. Construction walls have been lining walkways and blocking sections of EPCOT for years.

With the ComminiCore Hall Construction, Journey of Water Inspired by Moana attraction construction, and the finishing of the removal of the Harmonious barges, EPCOT is undergoing a lot of change right now.

Journey of Water Inspired by ‘Moana’ Construction Update

According to CEO Bob Iger, Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” is the last step in the years-long EPCOT reimagining. It’s expected to open later this year, along with Dreamer’s Point, CommuniCore Hall, and CommuniCore Plaza.

Journey of Water concept art shows flowing waterfalls as well as water jumping over pathways. The giant Te Fiti statue sits next to a pool of water near the back of the area. This will be a walk-through attraction.

Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” is part of the World Nature neighborhood of EPCOT. It is set to open this fall.

Check out our list of every new attraction coming to Disney Parks in 2023, which includes Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana.” The walkthrough attraction may include some MagicBand+ interaction.

Harmonious Barge Removal

Aerial photographer @bioreconstruct shared photos of Harmonious barges being demolished backstage at EPCOT. All four of the taco-shaped barges, plus the circular “stargate” barge, have now been removed from World Showcase Lagoon. The final performance of Harmonious was on April 2, and the first barge was gone as of April 10.

In bioreconstruct’s photos, the circular barge and the second taco barge are parked in the marina, while the deconstruction of the first taco barge continues. At this time, all the barges have been removed from World Showcase Lagoon.

The photos offer a close-up view of one of the barges being taken apart, with pieces in piles on the construction site. The barge now barely resembles its previous taco shape.

For more construction updates on EPCOT, check out these stories:

• Weatherproof Sheathing Installed on CommuniCore Hall as Construction Continues at EPCOT
• PHOTOS: EPCOT Popcorn Stand Gets World Discovery Makeover
• PHOTOS: Façade Chipped as Work Continues on Morocco Pavilion Roof Refurbishment at EPCOT

Will you be stopping for a Fanta Banana slushy? Tell us about it in the comments below.

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We have received word of three attractions getting some refurbishments done starting in early July for an undetermined period, including two attractions which have already seen refurbishments in 2023 — Soarin’ Around the World, Alice in Wonderland, and the Disneyland Monorail.

First up, Alice in Wonderland yet again. The beloved 1950s-era Disneyland attraction will both close on July 5 for an undetermined period of time. This comes right on the heels of another brief refurbishment of Alice in Wonderland, which will be closed for around 10 days in early June alongside three other dark rides — Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. The two former rides are located within the same show building.

This classic Disney dark ride takes guests on a journey through the world of “Alice in Wonderland,” the 1951 Disney animated feature, including a brief jaunt outdoors.

Meanwhile the Disneyland Monorail will be closed from July 5 as well for an undetermined period of time. Currently the Disneyland Resort calendar extends out to July 8, so we’re unsure when exactly the Monorail will reopen or to what extent this refurbishment is covering.

More a relaxing spot away from the crowds than actual transportation, the Disneyland Monorail was the first daily-operating monorail system in the Western Hemisphere when it opened in 1959. Guests can ride the rails from the Downtown Disney District and the nearby Disneyland Hotel on a grand tour of the resort including a quick ride past Disney California Adventure and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

Previously we reported on the incredibly poor state of the Disneyland Monorail, noting that some parts of the cars were being held together with duct tape. Hopefully the park is able to address some of these concerns during the downtime.

Meanwhile across the esplanade at Disney California Adventure, the classic Soarin’ Around the World will also close for refurbishment for an undetermined period from July 5. This IMAX film simulates hanggliding past iconic monuments and landmarks from around the world, including Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Taj Mahal, and the Eiffel Tower.

While we’re unsure when any of these attractions will reopen as Disneyland’s calendar only extends out to July 8, we do know that maintenance is a necessary evil to keep the attractions we love in tip-top shape. Hopefully when they come back, they’ll be better than ever!

Do any of these planned refurbishments impact your summer trip to Disneyland? Let us know in the comments below!

For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.

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The new chocolate-dunked churro ear headband is now available at the Disneyland Resort! We found these new snack-inspired Minnie ears at the Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A.

Churro Ear Headband – $34.99

The ears resemble two chocolate-dipped churros curled into circles. They are made of hard plastic, with chunky glitter resembling sugar.

A sparkly white Minnie bow sits between the churro ears.

The headband is chocolate-brown and also covered with sugar sparkles.

Will you be wearing these churro ears during your next Disney trip? Let us know in the comments.

Check out more Minnie ear headbands:

• New Tinker Bell Ear Headband at Disneyland
• Two New Wild-Inspired Minnie Ear Headbands Feature ‘The Lion King’ and Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland
• New ‘Moana’ and Disney100 Ear Headbands Arrive at Disneyland

Disney Churros

Churros are a popular snack food at Disney Parks. They were first introduced at Disneyland in the 1960s and are now available at Disney Parks around the world.

Churros are made of dough that is piped into long, thin strips and then deep-fried. The churros are then dusted with sugar and cinnamon and served warm. They can be eaten plain or with a variety of toppings, such as chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, or powdered sugar. Seasonal varieties are often made available, for holidays or to celebrate intellectual properties.

For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.

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