In the news this week, why Disney World has stopped selling Annual Passes and the most magical Disney holiday experiences for your next Disneyland vacation.

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Disney Stops Selling Walt Disney World Annual Passes

In an effort to manage attendance an create a better guest experience, as of November 22, Disney has suspended sales of all Walt Disney World annual passes, with the sole exception of the Disney Pixie Pass for Florida residents.

This unprecedented move was never seen before the implementation of the Park Pass reservations, and it is not a good trend.

The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts celebrates the best in visual, culinary, and performing arts – runs January 14 – February 21, 2022.
 
2022 will feature the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series, with three performances each evening headlined by Broadway stars performing favorite songs from more than 25 years of award-winning DISNEY ON BROADWAY stage productions.
Here’s the full lineup of jaw-dropping talents performing at this year’s DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series:

• Arielle Jacobs (“Aladdin”) & Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
• Kerry Butler (“Beauty and the Beast”) & Telly Leung (“Aladdin”)
• Heidi Blickenstaff (“Freaky Friday,” “The Little Mermaid”) & Robert Creighton (“Frozen”)
• Kara Lindsay (“Newsies”) & Dan DeLuca (“Newsies”)
• Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”) & Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
• Kissy Simmons (“The Lion King”) & Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
• Feb. 21 – Special, extended finale performance featuring Brown, Strickland, Simmons & Scott

All shows will take place at America Gardens Theatre and are included with theme park admission.

Ahead of its refresh in 2022, Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort is sparkling for the holiday season.

From sweets, to sips and savory bites. Watch for:  

• Marceline’s Confectionery – Mickey Peppermint Marshmallow, a Mickey Santa Cupcake, a Snowflake Caramel Apple and much more!
• Salt & Straw – Savor a scoop or pint of festive new flavors that embrace warmth and spice, such as Peppermint Cocoa, Gingerbread Cookie Dough, Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache and more
• Sprinkles – Get in the spirit with all three holiday cupcakes: Christmas Cookie, Gingerbread and Chocolate Peppermint.

Enjoy evening entertainment from a capella carolers throughout the season featuring Holiday Harmony, The Moonrays and The Sugarplums who perform near the Downtown Disney District main stage, Fridays through Sundays, Nov. 26-Dec. 26, 2021, along with our main stage bands.

Now through December 14, 2021, join the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive supporting Toys for Tots and give back to those in need this holiday season. Donate a toy online at shopDisney.com, or donate a new, unwrapped toy in person at Downtown Disney District. Donation bins are located near World of Disney and Star Wars Trading Post. Disney’s tradition of supporting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves’ Toys for Tots program dates back to Walt Disney, who personally supervised the creation of the Toys for Tots logo. Disney also was a founding sponsor of the program when it began in 1947. Today, the Disneyland Resort is proud to continue supporting this tradition.

The Holidays at the Hotels of Disneyland Resort

At Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, the lobby shines with a holiday tree adorned with an under-the-sea theme with blue, green and silver decorations and a garland glistening with shells and starfish. 

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel once again features its majestic, towering tree with ornaments inspired by the Arts & Crafts movement of early California.

A highlight at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel is the gingerbread replica of the hotel. Standing 7 feet tall and 12 feet wide, the structure is created from more than 600 pounds of gingerbread, 600 pounds of powdered sugar, 250 pounds of fondant and 1 pound of pixie dust ­– plus 25 hidden Mickeys. Nearby, pick up sweet treats such as Mickey Christmas cookies from the lobby’s holiday cart.

Santa Claus and Carolers: Santa will visit each Disneyland Resort hotel from Nov. 25 – Dec. 24, 2021, and hotel Guests are encouraged to share their wishes with St. Nick. Guests will also be delighted to hear the joyful sounds of handbell carolers at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Nov. 25, 2021 – Jan. 9, 2022, and holiday carolers strolling the Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel Dec. 15 – 25, 2021.

Spa La La La La: At the new Tenaya Stone Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, Guests of any of the three Disneyland Resort Hotels may treat themselves to a holiday season spa treatment, November 26, 2021 – January 3, 2022. The Candy Cane Lane Foot Treatment uses a refreshing peppermint cocoa foot soak, scrub and a minty massage to soothe and invigorate feet and legs. The Underneath the Tree Signature Massage uses customized massage techniques combined with the scent of fir, California lemon, wild mint and a touch of eucalyptus for pure relaxation.

Thank You for Listening

Thank you for listening to 1923 Main Street, Amelia and I hope that you enjoyed the show. If you did, we would be very grateful if you could rate, review and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Spotify or your favorite podcast player. A brief review about what you liked most about an episode truly helps to keep the show going by exposing it to new listeners. We look forward to continue producing new episodes of our Disney podcast each week.

Contact us at 1923 Main Street

We know that you enjoy Disney podcasts and we thank you for listening to the Disney Travel Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. As always, we love to get feedback and questions from our listeners and to hear your suggestions and ideas for 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 so that we can continue to improve the podcast, please share 1923 Main Street with your friends and on social media.

Shop Disney

Be sure to visit our online shop to see 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

For this, the 100th Episode of The Disney Travel Podcast at 1923 Main Street we've switched to a brand-new 15-minute news format. Join us for the very latest Disney travel news and exactly what it means for you.

Listen to The Disney Travel Podcast

Mickey's ToonTown is Closing

Mickey's Toontown at Disneyland Parks is going to be reimagined with new experiences and more play areas for young families, including grassy lawns. It closes in March 2022 and will reopen in early 2023 alongside Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway.

One of the new areas coming to Mickey’s Toontown will be CenTOONial Park, the first space Guests will see when they enter. This natural space will be anchored by two interactive play experiences. At the center of CenTOONial Park will be a fountain, designed for play, which will also become a center icon for Mickey’s Toontown. As its base, water tables will invite Guests to play with the water and have a sensory experience. At night, the fountain will be brought to life in a unique spectacle.

A nearby dreaming tree will be inspired by the tree a young Walt Disney would daydream under in his hometown. Sculpted tree roots will provide an opportunity for children to play, crawl and explore, and undulating topography will offer rolling hills and a place to sit and dream.
Here's an update on the new DVC tower at Disneyland Hotel themed after stories of being a Disney artist, from sketching styles of Walt Disney himself to rooms based on original drawings from classic Disney films like Sleeping Beauty. Plus a very kid-friendly pool area.

News From Destination D23

At Destination D23, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro revealed Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open summer 2022 at EPCOT as part of the Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary celebration. This new family-friendly coaster matches the “grandosity” and fun of the blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy” films in what will be one of the longest fully enclosed coasters in the world. an intergalactic chase through time and space. And it features a reverse launch!
 
At Disneyland Resort, the next evolution of Downtown Disney District is being planned with work starting in January 2022. The multi-year project to reimagine Downtown Disney District will include an even broader collection of shopping, dining and entertainment experiences. More details are coming in 2022! 

Galactic Starcruiser March 2022, but there are soft launches earlier in February.
Live entertainment is coming back almost everywhere, including shows and Festival of Fantasy Parade in early 2022.

Also, “World of Color” and “Fantasmic!” are returning to the Disneyland Resort next year, along with the “Main Street Electrical Parade”.

MagicBands are Coming to Disneyland (finally)

This will mark the first time MagicBand+ will be available at Disneyland Resort. Some of the features of MagicBand+ will vary between Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort but they haven't shared details yet.  The “Hey, Disney!” voice assistant will work alongside Alexa on Amazon Echo devices and also will begin rolling out to Guest rooms across the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort.  

Disney Imagineers are working on bringing characters – of all sizes – to life in authentic ways at Disney Parks and right now they’re developing a full-body exoskeleton system they’ve nicknamed “Project EXO.” It’s still in early concept development and Josh and team shared a glimpse at what the future of Disney Parks may look like!

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays 

The 2021 festival will run from November 26 through Dec. 30, 2021. It celebrates holiday traditions from around the globe, with a variety of yuletide decorations, family-friendly activities, and the return of the beloved long-standing tradition of “Candlelight Processional.”

What are holidays without delicious food and drink? The 14 Holiday Kitchens are scattered throughout all 11 World Showcase pavilions and beyond offering returning fan-favorites and delicious classic holiday dishes and festive beverages.

The fun Holiday Cookie Stroll is back this year with a sweet cookie scavenger hunt. The Festival Passport lists the five official Holiday Cookie Stroll locations, and each stop will offer a delicious cookie for purchase and a stamp for your Festival Passport. Once Guests have collected all five stamps, they can bring their Festival Passport to the Holiday Sweets & Treats Holiday Kitchen to receive a 50th anniversary celebration cookie! Guests can complete their Holiday Cookie Stroll at their leisure – they can even bring back their stamped Festival Passport to EPCOT at any time during the festival to complete their stroll. 

In The American Adventure rotunda, EPCOT pastry chefs have recreated the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and The American Adventure building in miniature gingerbread versions.

Also at Epcot, a new Walt Disney statue in the World Celebration area is likely to become a hot spot for photos. Dreamer's Point near Spaceship Earth will basically be the Partners of this park.

More Fun PhotoPass Lenses!

WDW has launched even more Disney PhotoPass Lenses! These new Lenses, along with our current collection, are available through the My Disney Experience app with a purchase of Disney Genie+ service.

The Disney Wish will have two new stage shows: Sieze the Adventure will feature Captain Minnie and a new live action adaptation of The Little Mermaid with a new take on the story.
In related news, Disney Cruise Line has announced that guests 5 and older must be fully vaccinated to sail as of January 13, 2022 and Adventures by Disney January 12, 2022. We will see how this all plays out given Florida legislation.

Mirabel from ‘Encanto’ Joins Disney ¡Viva Navidad! During Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure Park.

Thank You for Listening

Thank you for listening to 1923 Main Street, Amelia and I hope that you enjoyed the show. If you did, we would be very grateful if you could rate, review and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Spotify or your favorite podcast player. A brief review about what you liked most about an episode truly helps to keep the show going by exposing it to new listeners. We look forward to continue producing new episodes of our Disney podcast each week.

Contact us at 1923 Main Street

We know that you enjoy Disney podcasts and we thank you for listening to the Disney Travel Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. As always, we love to get feedback and questions from our listeners and to hear your suggestions and ideas for 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 so that we can continue to improve the podcast, please share 1923 Main Street with your friends and on social media. You can also drop by our Patreon page (which is kind of like a virtual tip jar), where we have set up some special support levels for anyone who would like to help out in that way.

Shop Disney

Be sure to visit our online shop to see 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 Parks are a big part of any Disney vacation. So how much time should you spend in a Disney park on any given day? Is it an all-day affair, or it that a mistake?

Listen to Episode 99 of The Disney Travel Podcast

Is it Really a Good Idea to Spend All Day in Disney Parks?

With so much to do on a Disney vacation, it's easy to get lost in the belief that spending all day in the parks is the right thing to do. But is it?

In Episode 99 of The Disney Travel Podcast at 1923 Main Street® we explore how much time you should dedicate to visiting Disney Parks and how much time you should leave to enjoy the other aspects of a Disney vacation.

We also cover our favorite things to do in Disney Parks and the most important things to know so that you make the most of your time there (without burning out).

Thank You for Listening

Thank you for listening to 1923 Main Street, Amelia and I hope that you enjoyed the show. If you did, we would be very grateful if you could rate, review and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Spotify or your favorite podcast player. A brief review about what you liked most about an episode truly helps to keep the show going by exposing it to new listeners. We look forward to continue producing new episodes of our Disney podcast each week.

If you are interested in helping to support the our show, we have set up some great rewards for our supporters on Patreon. So feel free to drop by for a visit.

Contact us at 1923 Main Street

We know that you enjoy Disney podcasts and we thank you for listening to the Disney Travel Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. As always, we love to get feedback and questions from our listeners and to hear your suggestions and ideas for future episodes.

Please be sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

If you would like to help support the show so that we can continue to improve the podcast, please share 1923 Main Street with your friends and on social media. You can also drop by our Patreon page (which is kind of like a virtual tip jar), where we have set up some special support levels for anyone who would like to help out in that way.

Shop Disney

Be sure to visit our online shop to see 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