An accomplishment for EPCOT, the park Imagineers weren't really sure would be accepted by guests
As EPCOT turns 40, we look back at why the success of this park was not a sure thing. Plus, Disneyland is finally getting MagicBand+. So what's different from Walt Disney World's version and is it worth getting?
Listen to the Latest Disney Travel News
Anniversary Fever Strikes Disney Parks as EPCOT Turns 40 on October 1, 2022
EPCOT wasn't always a park that was slated for success. A quick look back at the creation of Disney's first park not modeled after a Magic Kingdom. EPCOT 40th Anniversary Merchandise Revealed The new EPCOT 40th Anniversary Collection is available for purchase as of October 1, 2022, with additional items arriving throughout the month. The collection features retro and nostalgic designs that offer a wide variety of merchandise for the entire family. Initial reactions among fans have been mixed. This commemorative merchandise will be available at Creations Shop in EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Select items will also be available on shopDisney.com. Foodie Guide to EPCOT 40th Anniversary Celebrations From the very beginning, EPCOT has always had a food component through World Showcase. So it's only fitting that there's a foodie guide to accompany EPCOT 40th Anniversary Celebrations (including our top picks). Connections Café (Available Sept. 29 through Oct. 3)
MagicBand+ Coming to Disneyland Resort this Fall While MagicBand+ offers very little in terms of innovative new experiences, Disney fans have still been snapping them up to try them out at Walt Disney World. With MagicBand+ launching soon at Disneyland, will there be anything different or better in terms of features and experiences? The answer is, unfortunately, no. Here's what you can expect once MagicBand+ launches at Disneyland. At launch, you'll be able to connect your MagicBand+ to theme park tickets or a Magic Key pass in the Disneyland and use it for Lightning Lane entrances. Disney PhotoPass photographers will also accept a tap of your band to link photos to your Disney account. All pretty basic and standard MagicBand functionality. MagicBand+ will also offer its glow-with-the-show capability at Disneyland. Again, nothing special. The Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters interactive quest has vibrations and lights from MagicBand+. This feature has, in our opinion, ruined the landscape of Galaxy's Edge by inserting very non-immersive screens throughout the land. Plus, users have encountered problems with this activity, particularly in terms of rapidly draining the MagicBand+ battery (rendering it useless as far as completing the mission). Should you buy a MagicBand+ at Disneyland? The basic functionality of a MagicBand is good, but the enhancements are nothing special at all and not worth it in our opinion. Contact us at 1923 Main Street Thank you for listening to the Disney Travel News Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. We try to bring 15 minutes of Disney magic every week. As always, we love to get feedback and questions from our listeners and to hear your suggestions and ideas that we can include in future episodes. Please be sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Your Source for the Latest Disney Travel News If you would like to help support the show, please share 1923 Main Street with your friends and on social media. We very much appreciate the support! Shop Disney Be sure to visit our online shop for a wide selection of 1923 Main Street merchandise, plus original Disney-inspired t-shirts and more. Thank you for listening and have a magical day! Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic
0 Comments
Top Picks for Halloween Treats at Walt Disney World Hotels
Christmas or Halloween? Which is a Better Time to Visit Walt Disney World. This question answered, plus Halloween foodie guides and recommended top pics for Walt Disney World hotels, Disney Springs and Downtown Disney.
Listen to the Latest Disney Travel News
Christmas or Halloween? Which is a Better Time to Visit Walt Disney World
In Episode 143 of the Disney Travel News Podcast at 1923 Main Street we discuss which of these two popular holiday periods is the best time to plan a vacation to Walt Disney World Resort. Foodie Guide to Halloween Bites From the Resorts of Walt Disney World Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, and Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort World Premiere Food Court, Intermission Food Court, and End Zone Food Court (Available October 1 through 31; Mobile order available)
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Landscape of Flavors (Available October 1 through 31; Mobile order available)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge The Mara (Available October 1 through 31; Mobile order available)
Boma – Flavors of Africa, Victoria Falls Lounge, and Sanaa (Available October 1 through 31)
Disney’s Beach Club Resort Beach Club Marketplace (Available October 1 through 31; Mobile order available)
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop (Available October 1 through 31)
Disney’s BoardWalk BoardWalk Deli (Available October 1 through 31; Mobile order available)
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Centertown Market and Spyglass Grill (Available October 1 through 31; Mobile order available)
Disney’s Contemporary Resort Contempo Café (Available October 1 through 31; Mobile order available)
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Barcelona Lounge (Available through November 30)
Three Bridges Bar and Grill at Villa del Lago (Available October 1 through 31)
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Gasparilla Island Grill (Available through October 31; Mobile order available)
Disney’s Old Key West Resort Good’s Food to Go (Available October 1 through 31)
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Capt. Cook’s and Kona Island (Available October 1 - 31; Mobile order available at Capt. Cook’s only)
Pineapple Lanai (Available October 1 through 31)
Disney’s Pop Century Resort Everything POP Shopping and Dining (Available October 1 through 31; Mobile order available)
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter and Riverside Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory and Riverside Mill Food Court (Available October 1 through 31; Mobile order available)
Scat Cat’s Club – Café (Located at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter; available October 1 through November 27)
Disney’s Riviera Resort Le Petit Café (Available October 29 through 31)
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa Backstretch Pool Bar (Available October 1 through 31)
The Artist’s Palette (Available October 1 through 31; Mobile order available)
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Geyser Point Bar & Grill (Available October 1 through 31)
Roaring Fork (Available October 1 through 31; Mobile order available)
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort The Market at Ale & Compass (Available October 1 through 31; Mobile order available)
Available at Select Pool Bars and Lounges at Walt Disney World Resorts (Available October 1 through 31)
Foodie Guide to Halloween Treats at Walt Disney World Resort Theme Parks and Disney Springs EPCOT Connections Café
Connections Eatery
Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue
Sunshine Seasons
Available at Fife & Drum and Popcorn Carts near Canada, Journey Into Imagination With Figment, Creations Shop, and Mission: SPACE
Disney’s Hollywood Studios ABC Commissary (Available October 1 through 31)
Backlot Express (Available October 1 through 31)
Catalina Eddie’s (Available October 1 through 31)
Dockside Diner (Available October 1 through 31)
Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge (Available October 1 through 31)
Hollywood Scoops (Available October 1 through 31)
Oasis Canteen (Available October 1 through 31)
PizzeRizzo (Available October 1 through 31)
Rosie’s All-American Cafe (Available October 1 through 31)
Sunshine Day Bar (Available October 1 through 31)
Tune-In Lounge (Available October1 through 31)
The Trolley Car Café (Available October 1 through 31)
Woody’s Lunchbox (Available October 1 through 31)
Available at Various Food Carts Throughout the Park (Available October 1 through 31)
Available at Animation Courtyard, Hollywood Boulevard, and Hyperion Theater Popcorn Carts (Available October 1 through 31)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park Available at Mahindi, The Feeding Ground, Corn-Ivores, and Trek Snacks
Disney Springs Amorette’s Patisserie
Dockside Margarita (Available through October 31) Monster Margarita: Patron Silver Tequila, Grand Marnier, sweet-and-sour, black cherry, green apple, and lime juice The Ganachery
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar (Available through October 31)
Marketplace Snacks (Available through October 31)
Outdoor Vending Throughout Disney Springs (Available through October 31)
Swirls on the Water (Available through October 31)
Vivoli il Gelato (Available through November 1)
Various Carts Throughout Disney Springs
Celebrate Halloween Time in Downtown Disney District and at the Disneyland Resort Hotels Hunt for pumpkins! Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit has returned to the Downtown Disney District! If guests would like, they can purchase a map and stickers at select Disney merchandise locations such as World of Disney or at Disneyland Resort Hotel gift shops, and search for 13 hand-painted pumpkins hidden throughout the district, each inspired by a different Disney character. Whether they choose to hunt for pumpkins or not, they can return their map to redeem one of four mini pumpkin pails. While searching for pumpkins, guests can also see Downtown Disney’s beautiful flower beds along the way. Our Horticulture and Resort Enhancement teams have been busy bringing in more than 5,000 plants across 14 planters in rich autumnal colors of russet red and harvest orange. Spine-tingling songs! As six of the 999 Happy Haunts, The SCAREolers are a frightfully fun a cappella group. This ghostly glee club sings Halloween songs from “I Put a Spell on You” to tributes to our favorite Disney Villains. Enjoy their performances Friday through Sunday evenings, Sept. 30 through Oct. 31, 2022, before they return to their crypt! Halloween carolers can also be heard roaming on select afternoons in October at the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Picture yourself in “Hocus Pocus 2”: If guests are visiting Downtown Disney District between Sept. 20 and Oct. 31, 2022, look for a special photo opportunity celebrating the upcoming Disney+ Original movie, “Hocus Pocus 2,” streaming Sept. 30, exclusively on Disney+. This photo op will be located between Splitsville and Tortilla Jo’s. Love at first bite! Guests can sink their fangs into fall flavors and enjoy pumpkin-spiced treats, savory dishes and clever concoctions throughout Downtown Disney District and the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort. Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes, La Brea Bakery Cafe, Ballast Point Brewing Co., Naples Ristorante e Bar, Marceline’s Confectionery, Kayla’s Cake, Sprinkles, Jamba, and Salt & Straw are just a few of the many restaurants and snack stops to get their Halloween goodies fix. At the hotels, the GCH Holiday Cart, Hearthstone Lounge, GCH Craftsman Grill and the Coffee House are also featuring tasty treats and drinks. It’s Oogie Boogie! And he’s chillin’ like a villain! Stop by the lobby of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and see this annual confectionery masterpiece from our pastry shop, made with all these ingredients!
Disney KiteTails Takes Last Flight on September 30 As you know, Disney KiteTails debuted at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park for the launch of the 50th Anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World Resort. After this first year, we will transition the entertainment on Discovery River Lagoon to the Flotillas. The last flight for Disney KiteTails will be September 30, 2022. We look forward to seeing our guests continue waving to their Disney Friends cruising by on Flotillas, embracing Disney pals with up-close encounters, and more to come as we introduce our Festive holiday season offerings in the months ahead. Contact us at 1923 Main Street Thank you for listening to the Disney Travel News Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. We try to bring 15 minutes of Disney magic every week. As always, we love to get feedback and questions from our listeners and to hear your suggestions and ideas that we can include in future episodes. Please be sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Your Source for the Latest Disney Travel News If you would like to help support the show, please share 1923 Main Street with your friends and on social media. We very much appreciate the support! Shop Disney Be sure to visit our online shop for a wide selection of 1923 Main Street merchandise, plus original Disney-inspired t-shirts and more. Thank you for listening and have a magical day! Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic 
Disney Villains are Finally Getting a Land in Magic Kingdom
All the Disney travel news from the D23 Expo event 2022. We unpack all of it in this week's episode. What you need to know as a Disney traveler to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise and Disney resorts around the globe.
Listen to the Disney Travel Podcast
Everything New for Disney Parks and Resorts from D23 Expo 2022
So What's Next for Disney Parks? You won't believe what's coming behind Big Thunder Mountain at Walt Disney World This is Disney's Blue Sky sneak peak of what's coming down the road for Disney Parks. This portion of the D23 Expo had the biggest cheer of anything announced in 2022. First though, Josh D'Amaro announced what's happening with Dinoland at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park. It has been languishing and looks forgotten so the announcement of a big transformation coming was welcome. Zootopia and Moana will share the space currently occupied by Dinoland. But the biggest news of all... Disney Villains are Finally Getting a Place to Call their Own Magic Kingdom will feature new frontiers and it's all hiding on the other side of BTM. The little town of Santa Cecilia will come to life as Coco gets a Magic Kingdom presence. And if you do want to talk about Bruno, you're in luck because you may be able to walk right into the Madrigal's casita. But all is not fun and flowers in this new land...as what if the Disney villains took up residence there as well...beyond Big Thunder Mountain. This was presented as conceptual and would likely be 10 years down the road, but Disney would not share it in this way if it weren't going to happen. Big news for Walt Disney World and Magic Kingdom. There's More Coming to Walt Disney World A new nighttime show for EPCOT will debut in late 2023 to kick-off the 100th Anniversary of the Walt Disney Company. Moana's Journey of Water and the rest of the World Celebration area at EPCOT will open in late 2023. So we'll have to bear with those construction walls for another year it seems. Figment is returning in a brand new form for a meet and greet at EPCOT. That will be in place by the end of 2023. In Magic Kingdom, the perennial favorite Hatbox Ghost will materialize once again in the Haunted Mansion. And we now know that Tron Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom will debut in Spring 2023. We were hoping it would be sooner, but apparently they are working on finishing touches right now. No specific date, just "spring." Finally, in 2023, a new version of Happily Ever After will return as part of a new Magic Kingdom nighttime show. This received a good amount of applause. What's New and Coming to Disneyland Resort The DVC Villas at Disneyland Hotel will be called the Villas at Disneyland Hotel. How creative. On October 16, 2023 Disney 100 kicks-off and it promises to be the biggest celebration ever for Disney. Under the theme of a Boundless Future the following announcements were made: The Mandalorian and Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) will be onsite starting in Mid November 2022 at Disneyland Galaxy's Edge Over at the Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park, Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, noted "we're just getting started." A new giant Hulk will be at Avengers Campus in California "next week." Plus, they're bringing the Multiverse to Avengers Campus. Disney is expanding the campus to include a new attraction. In the new attraction you will battle alongside all the Avengers against all the foes from anywhere. You will fight King Thanos. This is a new Thanos -- a Thanos who won. And the Avengers are not too happy about that and you have to help them. More news to come. Also new to Disney California Adventure, they are reimagining Pacific Wharf into San Fransokyo from Big Hero Six. You'll be able to meet Baymax there. Finally, they are reimagining Paradise Pier Hotel, as it will become Pixar Place Hotel. It will feature a Finding Nemo splash pad and more characters. All in all, Disney promises that the hotel will feel completely new. Over at Downtown Disney more than a dozen new or reimagined locations are in the works. More announcements coming over the next year. But the big news locally is a that SoCal favorite bakery Porto's is coming to Downtown Disney. RunDisney at Disneyland is coming back in 2024. More details coming soon. It's been awhile for Run Disney as the last one took place in 2017. Mickey's ToonTown Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway are coming along. It was good to hear that it will be a slightly different version of Runaway Railway than the WDW edition, to fit into the Disneyland ToonTown story. It's all opening in 2023. Tiana's Bayou Adventure will open in late 2024 in both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. The story for the ride is that it picks up where the film (Princess and the Frog) left off. In the new story, Princess Tiana is an entrepreneur and community leader in the year 1927. She is hosting a party for the community and we need to help Tiana to find a special ingredient that she's missing. Disney promises that the latest tech is being implemented to really enhance the outside of the whole area at night. Mist will be used like a painter's canvas. "True bayou magic." The attraction is to be a love letter to New Orleans. Guests should feel the story is authentic to the city. Another great piece of news is that the original cast will be lending their voices to the new attraction. What's new at Disney Cruise Line The sixth ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet is all about adventure...celebrating Walt's love for exploration. The new Disney Cruise ship is called Disney Treasure. The Disney Wonder is heading to Australia and New Zealand late 2023. The island of Eleuthera and Lighthouse Point will be the new Bahamas port for Disney Cruise. 90% of the power will come from solar. What's Coming to Disney Parks Around the Globe Zootopia is opening at Shanghai Disneyland. World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland will open in the second half of 2023, featuring a Wandering Oaken sleigh coaster. Disneyland Paris' Frozen Arendelle land is coming along and Disneyland Hotel is being fully reimagined -- opening in 2024 At Tokyo Disneyland, Disney Fantasy Spring will feature Peter Pan, Tangled and Frozen. Plus a totally reimagined Space Mountain will open by 2027 at Tokyo Disney. Pixar We Belong Together will be debuting at Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris next year. The DLP 30th Anniversary celebrations will be continuing until September 2023. Contact us at 1923 Main Street Thank you for listening to the Disney Travel News Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. We try to bring 15 minutes of Disney magic every week. As always, we love to get feedback and questions from our listeners and to hear your suggestions and ideas that we can include in future episodes. Please be sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Your Source for the Latest Disney Travel News If you would like to help support the show, please share 1923 Main Street with your friends and on social media. We very much appreciate the support! Shop Disney Be sure to visit our online shop for a wide selection of 1923 Main Street merchandise, plus original Disney-inspired t-shirts and more. Thank you for listening and have a magical day! Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic |
About the Editor
Mike Belobradic is the founder of the 1923 Main Street® Disney Travel Podcast and the Luxury Disney Travel Blog. Archives
June 2023
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed