You MADE it to 2024! I KNEW you would!

Construction at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Disney World

2023 has been QUITE the year of ups and downs — especially for the Disney company. But today, we’re exploring what’s on the horizon for all of the Disney parks, and what YOU can expect to see appear during this new year of fun.

Check out our video below: BIG Disney World CHANGES in 2024

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And stay tuned for more Disney news! 

Are you going to Disney World in 2024we’re exploring what’s on the horizon for all of the Disney parks, and what YOU can expect to see appear during this new year of fun.? Let us know in the comments.

The post DFB Video: BIG Disney World CHANGES in 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog.

Let’s face it, sometimes tackling some of the major stuff you want to do at Disney World requires a game plan. That’s where we can help.

Drink up!

Whether it be traveling advice or tips on what to do (or not do) when you’re at Disney World, here at DFB, we’re here to help make your next Disney World vacation as easy as possible. We even have tips on how to get into that super popular Disney bar/lounge you’ve always wanted to try!

Getting into Disney World’s most popular bars and lounges can be a tough task at times, regardless of whether that bar is in a hotel, inside a Disney Park, or over at Disney Springs. Still, we know a few secrets you can use if you’re looking to grab that elusive seating!

Check the Calendar

©Disney

Despite what you may think, Disney World events that draw crowds don’t always result in busy bars and lounges. We recommend checking the Disney World calendar and circling a few dates if you’re looking for the BEST times to visit a popular bar or lounge. These special days include after-hours events, parties, or other nighttime events. Instead of crowding the bars, guests will be in the parks, giving you some of the best opportunities to either grab a dining reservation or simply walk up. Another tip that falls in line with this piece of advice is to visit during runDisney events. Trader Sam’s Grotto over at Disney’s Polynesian Resort is usually pretty busy but nights before races are fairly easygoing.

Go At Opening

Nomad Lounge

Not a day drinker? Perhaps you should reconsider. Sometimes your best opportunity to get into a bar or lounge is when it opens. For example, Nomad Lounge at Animal Kingdom is a popular lounge that has laid-back vibes, refreshing hand-crafted cocktails, and tasty lounge bites all served in a travel-themed bar. Sounds good, right? Well, other bar-goers agree and this place gets pretty busy while not offering advanced dining reservations. In cases like Nomad Lounge, we recommend rope-dropping and joining the walk-up list when the lounge opens either in person or on the My Disney Experience app.

Try To Avoid Weekends

Hollywood Studios Crowds

This piece of advice is simple — weekends generally bring in larger crowds at Disney World. It’s not just the bars and lounges that will be more filled, as everywhere you go will likely have big lines and longer waits. If you want the path with the least resistance, we recommend doing your bar-going midweek, if possible, to avoid the weekend rush.

Use Waitlists

It wasn’t a long wait at all!

We already touched on this but it can’t be overstated — waitlists can seriously come in handy. They can not only give you situational clarity, but they are oftentimes your best chance at getting into a bar or restaurant. They can be joined in person or conveniently on the My Disney Experience app, which allows you to save a place in line without having to physically be in a line.

Be Willing To Split Up Into Smaller Groups If Your Party Is Large

Oga’s Cantina

A reality about dining in general is that the smaller the party, the better chance you have to be seated. While not ideal in some circumstances, this principle must be kept in mind if you’re trying to get into a must-visit restaurant or lounge. This is especially true if you don’t have a reservation and are trying to get walk-up seating. If you have a large group (let’s say 6+ for example), the more willing you are to break off into pairs or groups of three or four, the more likely you are to be seated.

Show Up On Time If You’re On A Waitlist

White Rabbit

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Show up to your waitlist window ON TIME. You will generally be given a short window once your time is allocated so don’t wander too far off from the bar or lounge, as they will have no problem giving your time away to the next guest(s). You should also keep in mind that sometimes you may sign up for a long wait but get called in much sooner than you anticipated. When in doubt stay within 5-7 minutes walking distance of your waitlisted restaurant.

 Be Prepared To Barhop

Wine Bar George

Sometimes no matter what you do, it can be insanely difficult to get into that bar or lounge you’ve been dying to visit. Instead of getting sad, we suggest barhopping to a different bar! Disney World offers a plethora of great bars and lounges all over the resort that are guaranteed to scratch your bar itch. In fact, making a point to bar crawl can be a seriously fun time! For all things bars and lounges in Disney World, check out our guide below!

The post The SECRET to Getting Into the Most Popular Disney World Lounges and Bars first appeared on the disney food blog.

Multiple accounts online report that a guest shoved or potentially punched a Cast Member at the Magic Kingdom Monorail station on Friday night.

Incident at Magic Kingdom Monorail

The actual altercation was not captured on video, but TikTok user @teachingwithmscasco shared some video of the aftermath. In one, they wrote, “When it’s 9:50 and you have to wait for security to clear the monorail because a guest punched a cast member” over a clip of the Monorail at the Magic Kingdom station packed with guests.

Another video shows security Cast Members and Orange County Sheriff’s officers walking the platform and speaking to Cast Members and guests.

User @breanna.bear12 commented, “apparently a guest shoved a cast member and they’re getting arrested” and “the cast member didn’t do anything wrong, the guest freaked out for no reason”.

A post that has seemingly since been deleted in a Walt Disney World Annual Passholder Facebook group corroborated the story. One user, who said they were in the Monorail car the guest in question was going to get into, wrote, “A visitor push aside a cast member trying to get it into the monorail because he got mad he [was] told to go car and then he was told he can’t go.” Another commenter said the guest yelled at a sheriff’s officer.

In addition to an arrest, physical assault would likely result in a lifetime ban from Walt Disney World Resort, if not other Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line. An altercation on a Monorail platform would be especially dangerous as someone could potentially fall.

As a result of the incident, Monorail service to the nearby resorts was also delayed.

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

The post Magic Kingdom Guest Reportedly Arrested After Punching Cast Member appeared first on WDW News Today.

The multiple parks option of Disney Genie+ Service at Walt Disney World, which provides access to the line-skipping Lightning Lanes, has sold out on its own for the first time. In the past, multiple parks has only become unavailable when a park option sells out, effectively removing the option for multiple parks.

Multiple Parks Genie+ Sells Out

The multiple parks option was $39 today, December 30, a peak high price it has maintained since December 23. Magic Kingdom on its own is also $39, while Disney’s Hollywood Studios is $35, EPCOT is $32, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom is $29.

When Genie+ first launched, it was available at a flat rate of $15 per person, per day. In the fall of 2022, Disney switched it to date-based pricing. At the time, the new high price was $22. It reached $29 during the 2022 holiday season, then $35 during the 2023 spring break season. 

Genie+ for Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios both sold out for the first time ever this week. We may see individual park options sell out today and tomorrow (New Year’s Eve), too.

Magic Kingdom will celebrate New Year’s Eve tonight and tomorrow night, while EPCOT will celebrate tomorrow. Disney’s Hollywood Studios doesn’t have big celebrations but will be open until midnight on New Year’s Eve.

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

The post Walt Disney World ‘Multiple Parks’ Genie+ Option Sells Out On Its Own for First Time appeared first on WDW News Today.

We have over six months until Fantasy Springs opens at Tokyo DisneySea, but significant landmarks in the new area are visible from the Disney Resort Line Monorail, as is the Fantasy Springs Hotel.

Fantasy Springs Construction

The hotel faces the road, making it the most obvious element of the expansion to Tokyo DisneySea.

As we pass the hotel, the façade of Elsa’s ice palace is just barely visible on the North Mountain.

The hotel’s exterior is nearly complete, with pink walls and white trim.

There are two wings of the hotel, branching out from a central building.

There is still scaffolding around that central building, including the main entrance.

Hotel guests will have their own access to Fantasy Springs.

Check out our first look at the Fantasy Springs hotel.

The hotel is right next to the Monorail’s Bayside Station.

From the station, we could see construction materials grouped in the tunnels of the hotel.

Peeking around the hotel, some of Peter Pan’s Neverland is visible.

This looks like a giant upside-down flower — a structure in the Pixie Hollow section of Neverland. A large round rock to the right is part of the mountains that surround Fantasy Springs and, according to concept art, is home to the Native American tribe of Neverland.

Scrim and scaffolding surround structures along the edge of the land.

A themed fence appears to be made of uneven planks of wood.

The main attraction of Peter Pan’s Neverland will put guests on flying boats, like the classic Peter Pan’s Flight, but with a different story and new technology. Concept art of the area also includes Captain Hook’s pirate ship and Skull Rock.

Beyond Peter Pan’s Neverland, we can see more of Frozen Kingdom.

Aredendelle Castle rises above the trees, with green towers and brown rooves.

The mountains rise to a snowy peak, where we have a better view of Elsa’s ice palace.

Beyond that are more green mountains.

There are several cranes in Fantasy Springs for installing more large and tall elements.

Frozen Kingdom will be similar to World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland, including a version of the Frozen Ever After boat ride called Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey.

Unlike at Hong Kong Disneyland, guests will be able to dine inside Arendelle Castle.

As we pass an access road, we can see more mountains, covered in soft moss and foliage.

They are on both sides of the road, which will create more dimension.

The third land in Fantasy Springs is Rapunzel’s Forest, which will have a brand new “Tangled” boat ride.

We previously saw Rapunzel’s tower under construction.

Before Fantasy Springs opens, the “Dreaming of Fantasy Springs” event will celebrate the new port. When Fantasy Springs does open, guests will need to either obtain a Standby Pass or purchase Disney Premier Access to enter the land. Standby Pass is available on the Tokyo Disney Resort App, and guests can obtain a Standby Pass free of charge after entering the Park. Guests will be able to experience any of the four attractions at Fantasy Springs with a Standby Pass. Once guests obtain a Standby Pass, they will be able to enter Fantasy Springs to explore the new area and experience the selected attraction at a designated time.

Guests can purchase Disney Premier Access using the Tokyo Disney Resort App after entering the park. Guests will be able to experience three attractions at Fantasy Springs with Disney Premier Access. With Disney Premier Access for an attraction at Fantasy Springs, guests will be able to enter Fantasy Springs at a specified time to explore the new area and experience the selected attraction with a reduced wait time.

Tokyo Disney Resort also announced they will offer the 1-Day Passport: Fantasy Springs Magic that will guarantee access to Fantasy Springs.

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

The post PHOTOS: Pixie Hollow, Arendelle Castle, and Elsa’s Ice Palace Visible at Fantasy Springs in Tokyo DisneySea appeared first on WDW News Today.

Disneyland’s opening day on July 17, 1955, was intended to be a major media event, televised nationally with Hollywood stars and dignitaries in attendance. However, problems, mishaps, and disasters turned it into a day forever known as “Black Sunday.”

Background and Lead Up

The concept for Disneyland began when Walt Disney was spending time with his daughters at parks and carnivals in the 1940s and 1950s. He imagined a family park where parents and children could have fun together, sparking the idea for a new kind of amusement park. After years of planning, Walt Disney Productions broke ground on Disneyland in Anaheim, California in 1954. Walt closely oversaw the planning and construction, aiming to finish within one year.

With only 12 months until opening, the pressure was intense to finish building and preparing the park. As opening day approached, the park was clearly still a work in progress. Paths were still being paved, buildings were still unfinished, and attractions were still being tested. However, with the July 17th grand opening and national TV special fast approaching, there was no more time.

Opening Day Expectations

The July 17th event was planned as an International Press Preview, with about 15,000 special guests invited including press, celebrities, dignitaries, and company sponsors. It would give Walt a chance to showcase his nearly-finished park, building excitement before a public opening the following day on July 18th. The 3-hour Opening Day Celebration TV special hosted by Ronald Reagan, Art Linkletter, and Bob Cummings would give viewers across the country a first look at Disneyland and its themed lands: Main Street USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. Despite construction running behind schedule, Walt & Roy Disney were confident that opening day would delight their guests and launch their new park successfully. However, difficulties were already emerging behind the scenes…

Crowd Control Crisis

Unexpectedly, in the days leading up to July 17th, numerous counterfeit tickets were circulating, especially among those with ties to people working at Disneyland. As opening day arrived, the invited guest list of 15,000 swelled to over 28,000 ticket holders all trying to enter the park at once. The single Disneyland entrance and Main Street USA instantly jammed beyond capacity. With overcrowding and counterfeits out of control, additional guests continued finding ways into the park by climbing over fences and sneaking past security.

Counterfeit Tickets

The counterfeiting debacle on opening day caused massive problems, no one was able to identify who was behind making and distributing the fake tickets. It seems to have been an opportunistic situation taken advantage of by multiple parties rather than one single counterfeiting operation.

• The tickets were invitation-only for the July 17th International Press Preview event, reserved for VIPs, press, employees etc. However, counterfeits spread rapidly.
• It’s not clear who printed the fake tickets. The sources mention they were being sold at places like the Long Beach Pike amusement zone to those with Disney connections.
• There was likely more than one source, as thousands of counterfeits flooded the park, far exceeding expected attendance.
• Security was unprepared to spot the sophisticated fakes or stem the influx.
• In the years after, new ticket designs made replication more difficult. But the incident showed Disney’s vulnerability.

Unfortunately, there are still some unknowns about the origins of this little-discussed scheme that overwhelmed Disneyland’s first day. This issue highlighted a major area needing improvement for better capacity and access management.

Counterfeit Tickets After Opening Day

In the aftermath, Disneyland implemented several key measures aimed at preventing another counterfeit ticket crisis.

1. New ticket designs were created that were more difficult to replicate. The tickets started using special backgrounds and patterns to make counterfeiting harder.
2. Tickets were only sold directly through Disneyland and authorized sellers/travel agents.
3. Policies were added restricting ticket transfers and rentals. Disneyland cracked down, making tickets non-transferrable from the original buyer.
4. Security was increased to better verify valid tickets. With the opening day issues, Disneyland had learned tickets needed proper activation and security checks before allowing entrance with them.

The main measures were designing better tickets, restricting sales channels, adding transfer policies, and improving entrance security. These changes over time aimed to prevent a repeat of the counterfeit debacle that had contributed to the massive crowds and dangers on opening day in 1955.

Traffic and Parking Nightmares

The massive influx of unexpected visitors caused a traffic crisis on city roads and freeways leading to Disneyland. Traffic was backed up for seven miles on the Santa Ana Freeway, with travel times exceeding seven hours. Faced with gridlock, many families walked miles from the freeway to Disneyland’s entrance. Once arriving, Disneyland’s limited parking lot filled instantly. As cars overflowed into unofficial grass lots, vehicles were soon stranded bumper-to-bumper in thick mud from the previous night’s rain.

Breakdowns, Closures, and Accidents

Inside Disneyland, the vast crowds and strained systems led to accidents and breakdowns across the park on opening day.

• Within hours, restaurants ran completely out of food. Lines exceeded 2 hours long.
• Fantasyland suffered a major gas leak, forcing an emergency evacuation and closure of the land.
• The narrow passageways jammed dangerously as guests moved between lands. Strollers tipped over and children were separated from parents.
• Due to plumbers’ strikes, few drinking fountains were working on the hottest day of the year. Guests resorted to drinking water from decorative fountains.
• Rides including the Jungle Cruise, Rocket to the Moon, and Dumbo broke down from the strain of excessive use and unfinished maintenance.
• The Mark Twain Riverboat was overloaded with so many guests that its deck nearly dipped into the water.

The chaos disappointed families that had traveled cross-country after seeing Disneyland’s national TV promotion. The park was simply not ready for opening day, with some journalists calling the park a “fiasco.”

Aftermath

In the following days, Walt Disney personally apologized. He invited guests and press to return to properly experience Disneyland once repairs were finished and operations improved. Within just weeks, adjustments were made all across the park based on opening day feedback regarding crowd flow, ride capacity, staff communication, and traffic management. These lessons helped Disneyland quickly boost efficiency and guest satisfaction after the rocky debut. Soon the magic of Disneyland shone through. Just seven weeks after opening day, Disneyland had already welcomed its one millionth visitor.

Within a year, over 5 million people visited, cementing Disneyland’s status as a beloved California landmark that still thrives today. So while Black Sunday created headaches and heartaches initially, it provided crucial insights to strengthen Disneyland for the long run. The disastrous first impression ultimately faded into history as Disneyland became “The Happiest Place on Earth.” Walt and Roy learned on July 17th what worked and what needed fixing – and the Park has continued evolving ever since opening day.

Wild Mishaps

Here are some interesting lesser-known things that happened on Disneyland’s opening day on July 17, 1955:

1. Walt Disney himself got accidentally locked in the apartment above the Main Street firehouse on opening morning. He had to yell for help to get freed.
2. A window pane fell off the Mark Twain Riverboat ride and crashed onto the head of an invited state senator.
3. Women wearing high heels on Main Street got their shoes stuck in the newly-paved asphalt that had melted in the heat.
4. Fantasyland suffered a major gas leak, forcing an emergency evacuation and temporary land closure on opening day.
5. Actress Irene Dunne’s limousine got stuck in wet cement outside Disneyland’s gates while bringing her to perform in the opening event.
6. With only a few working drinking fountains, guests desperately drank out of decorative fountains as temperatures exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Celebrity guests like Frank Sinatra who were scheduled to arrive every two hours instead all arrived at Disneyland at once, surprising organizers.

The Opening That Shaped the Future

Disneyland’s opening day on July 17, 1955 was intended to be a magical debut, but instead became an infamous disaster known as “Black Sunday.” The park simply was not ready to handle the vast crowds and slew of mishaps that overwhelmed operations from start to finish. However, Walt Disney himself saw opportunity amidst the chaos. He invited guests to return once repairs and improvements were finished, determined to live up to families’ expectations. The lessons learned from opening day missteps became the foundation for Disneyland’s eventual excellence.

Within weeks, changes were made across the park – from capacity limits to security procedures to infrastructure upgrades. Crowd flow, staff communication, ride functionality, and traffic management all improved dramatically based on opening day feedback. Soon the magic shone through, cementing Disneyland as “The Happiest Place On Earth.” In just over 60 years, over 800 million guests have visited.

And that special Disney magic has now expanded across 5 resorts worldwide thanks to a foundation built on July 17th, 1955. So while Black Sunday was a nightmare for all involved, it provided invaluable insights. It pushed Disneyland to quickly overcome early stumbles, set higher standards, and learn from mistakes. That turbulent opening day ended up shaping the successful, beloved theme park still enjoyed by families today.

The post Disneyland’s Disastrous Debut: The Inside Story of the 1955 Opening Day Fiasco appeared first on Park Savers.