The new cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort are done and accepting reservations!
NEW Fort Wilderness Cabins!
Disney removed the old cabins at Fort Wilderness and replaced them with brand-new, beautiful cabins. Now, it appears that these aren’t the only Disney cabins that are getting a make over. The Davy Crockett Ranch in Disneyland Paris will be starting its own refurbishment of the cabins located there, and boy, are they going to be nice!
Just like in Disney World, the current cabins at Davy Crockett Ranch in Disneyland Paris will be getting replaced. The new cabins will be more modern and comfortable for you to enjoy, while still providing the fun rustic, Disney theming.
The theming of the new cabins will showcase adventures of Donald, Daisy, Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby. You’ll find little details of the gang all around the cabins.
At this point, the process of creating these new cabins has just begun, but a model bungalow has been brought on site for reference and to determine if any adaptations need to be made. Based on the pictures we’ve seen of this model bungalow, they look adorable!
These new cabins will provide opportunities for you to not only enjoy the new space but also the great outdoors. Each will be environmentally friendly, have outdoor patios, and even all the equipment you’ll need to roast s’mores outside.
This latest refurbishment comes after several other hotel refurbishments at Disneyland Paris including the reimagined Disneyland Hotel that reopened this year, in 2024. We may see more hotel refurbishments over in Paris as the resort continues its Disney Hotels transformation plan.
We’ll be excited to see the finished bungalows when they are completed! The project certainly reminds us of The Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort and we know they turned out great. By the look and sound of it, these cabins will also turn out to be a great place for families to stay.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Are you planning a trip to Disneyland Paris? Let us know in the comments!
Extra, extra, read all about it! Seriously, we’re sure Disney World hasn’t had a wink of sleep because they’ve dropped so many new updates this week. If you’ve missed out, this is your chance to catch up!
Magic Kingdom
I’m back again with another round of WHAT’S NEW UPDATES AT DISNEY WORLD, a rundown on all the epic news and updates that happened at Disney World this past week. This week, we got the 4-1-1 on a RARE character coming back to Magic Kingdom, the CLOSURE of a Disney World Restaurant, and the BIG CHANGE to Lightning Lanes! Are y’all ready? Okay, let’s go!
Up until recently, we weren’t sure we would ever get to experience this rare character meet and greet again, but we may have just been proven wrong!
Fantasyland
After years of waiting, it appears as though Beast is back meeting and greeting visitors in his study at Be Our Guest restaurant in Magic Kingdom! Prior to the pandemic-related closures, diners would get to meet Beast in his study once they finished their meal during dinner. But, when this restaurant opened back up in 2020, Disney treated it as more of a traditional character meal, with Beast walking around and interacting with guests.
Be Our Guest
Many guests were seriously missing the opportunity to see Beast in his study, as it’s the only place where you can actually meet and interact with him in all of Disney World.
People missed him!
But, we had heard that the Beast would be back in his study once again soon, and it looks like that day has finally come! We passed by Be Our Guest to see if anything had changed, and we were surprised to see that it had! Of course, we had to go check it out for ourselves because it had been so long — more than FOUR years.
He’s back!
We confirmed with Cast Members that July 22nd was the Beast’s first day back meeting like this and that they’re testing things out to see how it goes. It’s possible this meet and greet could come back in full swing, or Disney could just choose to have Beast roaming around the restaurant as he has been since the restaurant reopened.
There he is!
We’ll be on the lookout for more signs that the Beast’s meet and greet is officially back at Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom since Cast Members have told us that this is a test for now.
We’re so happy to see him back and hope it becomes a permanent meet and greet once again!
We also recently noticed that Tortuga Tavern in Adventureland had closed, and it remained empty for a little while…but now that has changed! When we arrived in Adventureland the other day, we noticed that Tortuga Tavern had been renamed. It’s now “Tortuga Treasures!”
Tortuga Treasures
The updated spot seems to have been turned into a gift shop, selling pirate-themed souvenirs and merchandise. In fact, this seems to be much of the same merchandise that you could previously buy at Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar, the gift shop at the exit of Pirates of the Caribbean.
Merchandise displays
The merchandise was spread throughout the space on various pop-up stands, and a few registers were available to make your purchases. This area definitely looks different than it did when it was a restaurant a short while ago!
Lots of stuff from across the street
The menus have been covered up…
Menus are gone!
…but some of the old Tortuga Tavern theming remains.
The code of conduct remains!
Across the walkway at Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar, the merchandise has been removed and the cash registers cleared out. Much of the store is currently under construction.
What things look like at Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar now
You can still exit the ride, and the restrooms nearby are still accessible. However, there’s a fair bit of scrim up around the middle of the store.
The old cash registers
So what’s going on here? Well, do you remember when Disney announced that a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge would be coming to Magic Kingdom? The company hasn’t released many details about the new spot since, but we’re expecting it to be in this area.
The biggest change with this new system is that you can PRE-BOOK your Lightning Lanes before you arrive in Disney World! This includes getting to see the times you can experience certain experiences so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting with your purchase, as well as the opportunity to purchase Lightning Lanes for more than one vacation day, all at one time.
CHANGES are HERE!
Lightning Lane Multi Pass is what has taken the place of what was previously known as Disney Genie+, where you’ll pay one price for access to the opportunity to skip the lines of many different rides in Disney World. You can make up to 3 selections prior to your visit (for those staying at a Disney World hotel, you can make them up to seven days in advance of your check-in day for your entire stay — all other guests will be able to purchase and select your first 3 Lightning Lane Multi Passes three days in advance). Once you’re in the park, you can make another selection once you’ve used up one of the ones you’ve pre-booked.
Disney is also introducing (or reintroducing, shall we say, since it was part of FastPass+) a tiered system for ride selections. At Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, from those 3 advance selections, you’ll be able to choose one experience from a higher-tiered group and two experiences (or all three) from a lower-tiered group. (Tiers do not apply at Disney’s Animal Kingdom due to the type of attractions there).
Lightning Lane Single Passes can also be purchased 7 days in advance for Disney World hotel guests or 3 days in advance for other guests, but these are a separate fee that only grants you access to skip one line for the parks’ most popular attractions (this is what Individual Lightning Lanes previously were).
July 24th was the FIRST day these changes were rolled out, so we were on our phones in the morning, ready to check everything out for the first time and show you how it works. First, we opened the My Disney Experience app and navigated to “Today’s Plans.” From there, we went to the “Tip Board” section of the app. This is the same process as before; nothing has changed here.
From there, you can tap “Purchase Lightning Lane Passes” near the top of the screen and select your date. A list of parks will appear, and you can choose the first park you plan to start your day in. Each park has a dropdown menu with the prices of Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass.
Remember, with this NEW system, you can purchase both those pay-per-ride attractions (like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON Lightcycle / Run) AND Lightning Lane Multi Pass at the same time. Here’s a full list of the Multi Pass prices on July 24th, 2024:
Magic Kingdom — $29
EPCOT — $21
Hollywood Studios — $26
Animal Kingdom — $18
The prices appear to be consistent with the pricing for Disney Genie+ for the past few days. So, it does not look like the new system will have a price increase — at least for now!
Here’s a look at the Lightning Lane Single Pass pricing on July 24th:
We have a full list of ALL the prices between now and August 14th (the current furthest date you can preplan your vacation) that you can check out below! The prices seem to range from $25–$29 on the high side and $16–$18 on the low side.
Below is an example of what it’s like to book Lightning Lanes at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Don’t forget — the tier system is NOT a factor at this park, so you can book any three rides that you want. You have five minutes to check out without losing your selections. Disney has a notification at the top of your screen as you’re making your selections. Overall, the process was pretty smooth and user-friendly. Disney walks you through each step; just read what’s on the screen carefully. Below, you can see how the list of rides appears.
After that, you can review your selections one more time and then check out. You can watch a full sample of the process below! In the video, our sample vacation starts in Magic Kingdom, and you’ll see what happens if a Lightning Lane is unavailable. We were redirected back to make a different selection.
Today is the day, people! Genie+ is OUT and the new Lightning Lane Multipass is HERE! Here’s a quick look at us booking our day in Magic Kingdom today.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure was an option to choose here, but we did get a notification that it was unavailable for the day. pic.twitter.com/stPlnG9z8p
Wanna see another example? We’ve got you! Here’s a look at what it’s like to book reservations one week in advance.
This was our process of booking a week in advance for our Lightning Lanes in EPCOT! Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a separate price from the EPCOT Multipass for the day. pic.twitter.com/gldTjG8veP
Of course, that’s not all that happened! There are plenty of things that happen every single day at Disney World. Check out EVERYTHING by clicking through the links below! Our reporters and writers keep these pages updated with all the latest things that take place in the parks — from merchandise drops to new menu items. See for yourself!
WHAT’S NEW AT DISNEY?
Check out our daily updates on all the happenings around Disney World and Disneyland!
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
What do you think of these big Disney World updates? Let us know in the comments!
The space is still themed to the fictional Golden Vine Winery. Guests enter the courtyard through a vine-covered trellis.
There’s an outdoor kiosk like you’ll see in many Disney parks and resorts.
A podium resembles a red and black suitcase covered in travel stickers. They are for various countries and Disney destinations like Egypt, Disney Cruise Line, Switzerland, and Walt Disney World. A Disney Vacation Club sticker is near the top.
The podium supports a book of DVC information for guests to peruse and learn more about the timeshare program.
A new Mickey statue is also outside. Mickey wears a Hawaiian shirt and shorts. He holds a suitcase and another one is on the ground next to his wooden base. Like the Big Al statue near Grizzly River Run, Mickey is MagicBand+ activated. He will say a few lines of dialogue or play music if you wave at him with a MagicBand+. One musical sting is an acoustic guitar version of “Nothing Can Stop Us Now” from Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
Mickey’s suitcases are also covered in travel stickers.
A world map under the shade features photos from destinations around the world, including Disney parks and resorts. The parks and resorts are also marked with silhouetted icons. Most icons are the silhouettes of a castle but Aulani is represented with an “A”-like arch and Disney Cruise Line is represented by a ship. The compass rose in the center features the Disney Vacation Club logo.
There are a few small tables and chairs on the outdoor patio.
The façade of the building doesn’t look drastically different than it did as Blue Sky Cellar. There’s a new Golden Vine House sign above the door. Balloons decorated the awning’s columns during the opening.
Blue Sky Cellar first opened in the park’s Pacific Wharf area in 2008 as a replacement for Seasons of the Vine. On and off for the next several years, Blue Sky Cellar would feature exhibits about upcoming lands and attractions, like The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, Cars Land, and lastly Pixar Pier.
Immediately inside is a stone wall featuring a “Welcome Home” sign with grapevines. The DVC logo replaces the “o” in “Welcome.” A metal flat of Mickey with a suitcase is at the bottom of the wall.
This is a typical preview center with tables and chairs for waiting guests, models and video screens to learn more about DVC offerings, and office spaces for Cast Members to meet privately with guests about timeshare opportunities.
Under glass is a model of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa. This DVC resort opened in Kapolei, Hawaii in August 2011. It has 351 hotel rooms and 481 DVC Villas.
The model includes the iconic Aulani buildings, pools, and beaches.
This screen resembling a doorway will give you a peek at various DVC resorts.
The screen gave the options to look at Disney’s Riviera Resort, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, or the “Disney Collection.”
Other screens in giant wine barrels on the walls show price charts.
This one was playing clips from around the world.
More travel photos were on the wall above the barrels.
Another model is of the Villas at Disneyland Hotel and the nearby pools. The Villas at Disneyland Hotel opened last fall.
Frosted windows are decorated with images of Mickey and his friends, the DVC Mickey globe logo, and stars. The carpet is red and gray.
There’s a model of the Disney Wish, Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship — that is until the Disney Treasure debuts this winter.
Are you excited about this new DVC Welcome Home Center at Disney California Adventure? Or do you miss the Blue Sky Cellar experience?
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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Before the show started, we noticed that four of the six fireworks barges on the Rivers of America were gone entirely. Only the two center barges remained. Those removed include the barges that had rogue fireworks going off.
Despite two barges remaining in the water, they weren’t used during the show. Only pyrotechnics launched directly from Tom Sawyer Island and those on the Mark Twain Riverboat were used.
These included Mickey’s classic finger fireworks, which went off without a hitch.
One of the barges used by the monkeys and princesses was missing. We don’t think this is related to the reduced pyrotechnics but made the show even more noticeably pared-down.
Maleficent, on her tower that replaced the dragon, did not send any fire into the water.
The flares that lead into the finale remained.
The Mark Twain still had its sparkler fireworks that make Mickey magically appear.
The firework flares behind Sorcerer Mickey during the finale are the only effects that remain in full.
This lead to Mickey reappearing in his classic tuxedo on the stage below.
Watch the reduced pyrotechnics version of “Fantasmic!” in our video below.
For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.
Genie+ is OUT and the new Lightning Lane Multipass is HERE! Here’s a quick look at us booking our day in Magic Kingdom today.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a separate price from the EPCOT Multipass for the day. 
