Plus the Candlelight Processional Returns to EPCOT
Two popular events are coming back: Disney After Hours returns in January 2023 and the Candlelight Processional is back at EPCOT for the upcoming holiday season 2022. This is what you need to know for tickets, seating, dates and more.
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Disney After Hours Events Return in January at Walt Disney World Resort!
Disney After Hours events will return to Walt Disney World starting in January 2023, with the kick off on January 4, 2023 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and January 9 at Magic Kingdom Park. Disney After Hours are separately ticketed events that give you access to the park for three extra hours after regular park closing. You get free ice cream, popcorn and select beverages with your tickets. Tickets are limited for these events, which theoretically means lower wait times for attractions. But in our experience, this is not always the case -- so don't bank on that. "Limited" is a vague descriptor and we have routinely seen wait times of 30 to 45 minutes for popular rides. So that's a big chunk of your three hours. With Disney After Hours tickets, you can enter the park as early as 7:00 p.m., which gives you a little extra bang for your buck. You won't get the free snacks until the event begins at park closing, but at least you can get in a little earlier if you like. Disney After Hours event tickets for Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios can be purchased by starting October 7, 2022. Prices range from $129 to $159 (plus tax). Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels can begin purchasing Disney After Hours tickets as early as October 4. The advance-purchase window is available to Guests of Disney Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels as well as Shades of Green at Walt Disney World Resort. Disney Vacation Club members and Walt Disney World Annual Passholders can also purchase specially priced tickets for select dates. Disney After Hours events at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are scheduled for select nights from January 4 through April 19, 2023. Disney After Hours events at Magic Kingdom Park are scheduled for select nights, January 9 through March 27, 2023. For the full list of events, dates and times, and to purchase tickets, visit the Disney After Hours page of DisneyWorld.com. EPCOT Candlelight Processional Celebrity Narrators 2022 The popular, festive and very moving “Candlelight Processional” is returning to the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays starting November 25, 2022. This tradition has been a part of the holiday season at Walt Disney World since its opening in 1971 (originally held in Magic Kingdom Park before the opening of EPCOT). If you have never been and you love the holiday season, it's something worth considering. You will experience a heart warming retelling of the traditional Christmas story featuring celebrity narrators, the Voices of Liberty acapella ensemble, and a 50-piece live orchestra with large choirs. The 2022 line-up of celebrity narrators features new and returning favorites, including actors from some of your favorite movies, TV shows, world-renowned singers, and other talented artists. Here is the list of narrators for the 2022 Candlelight Processional at EPCOT:
Seating is free, but you can secure a spot at the show by booking a “Candlelight Processional” Dining Package (similar to Fantasmic). Packages went on sale on October 6, 2022 and you can get full details by visiting EPCOTholidays.com. 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
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What It's Like on a Walt Disney World Vacation Right Now
In this episode we share a trip report from Walt Disney World for Spring 2022. Hear what it's like to visit Walt Disney World right now and how is it different using Genie + and Lightning Lane. This story plus the latest Disney travel news.
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Things are Slowly Returning to "Normal" at Walt Disney World, but it's Not Quite There Yet
Walt Disney World is getting closer to being back to normal in many ways, but it still has a way to go until everything is fully opening and functioning at pre-pandemic levels. Some things may never come back. Masks are, for the most part, a thing of the past. In fact, we felt like the only guests wearing masks most of the time. We still required a negative Covid test to board a plane home, so we had to be extra careful (although this mandate for Canada is set to expire on April 1, 2022). It's very rare to see a mask on guests at Walt Disney World, except on monorails and buses, where they are still required (although we feel that this mandate won't be here for much longer. As Walt Disney World continues to emerge from the pandemic, there are still some things that are not back to the way they were (and may never be). For example, there are not boats running from Disney's Contemporary Resort. This is because Disney World lost a large number of boat captains over the pandemic and they are currently trying to hire and train new captains as quickly as possible. On a related note, we were told that the SeaRaycer mini speedboats would not be back. Apparently, the boats sat around for too long over the pandemic and simply got gummed up and required too much service to make the fleet worth keeping. We don't believe they will be replaced based on our discussions with Disney Cast Members. Is Lightning Lane Better than FastPass+? In short, no. Disney's Genie+ and Lightning Lane make visiting the parks at Walt Disney World much more challenging and frustrating versus previous methods of FastPass and FastPass+. We share full details in the episode, along with some tips and tricks for how to make the most of the current Lightning Lane and Individual Lightning Lane. Disney World Rides and Attractions Continue to Experience Downtime Consistent with what we had been hearing before this visit, many Disney rides and attractions continue to experience more downtime than was previously "normal" for Walt Disney World. Once again, we believe that this is due to staffing challenges and hopefully this will be remedied once Walt Disney World returns to more robust Cast Member staffing levels. This was particularly noticeable on things like the Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic Special Event. When you only have three hours in a park (in this case, Epcot), having Ratatouille down and Spaceship Earth down and Frozen Ever After experiencing issues etc., it's not a good thing. It led to longer lines at the few attractions that were open and overall was a poor experience as a result. A VIP Tour is a Good Way to Make the Most of the Magic We did another VIP Tour on this trip and it proved (as always) to be a great way to get on a ton of rides and attractions with virtually no wait time. Yes, VIP Tours are expensive, but if you're looking for a way to beat the challenges put in place by Lightning Lane and other new implementations, a Walt Disney World VIP Tour is still a good way to go. Thank You for Listening to The Disney Travel News Podcast Thank you for joining us at 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 and the latest Disney travel news on 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 News Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. 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 
Plus, The Complete 2022 Concert Line-Up for EPCOT Garden Rocks! Concert Series
More dining and entertainment continues to come alive at Walt Disney World. Hear when more of your favorite restaurants will be reopening, when the brand new Grand Floridian Spa will open and the complete concert line-up for the 2022 Garden Rocks! Concerts at Epcot.
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The Garden Rocks Concert Series is Back at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
The popular Garden Rocks Concert Series is returning to the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival in March 2022. New this year, top name artists will take the stage at the America Gardens Theater Friday thorugh Monday, while local Orlando bands step into the spotlight Tuesday through Thursday. What a great way to showcase local talent! The Complete 2022 Garden Rocks! Concert Line-up At EPCOT
You can reserve your spot at a show by booking a Garden Rocks Dining Package available Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday. Find out more by visiting FreshEPCOT.com. More Walt Disney World Restaurant Reopenings are Coming Your Way! Here's the latest news on Disney restaurant reopenings and updates at Walt Disney World for January and February 2022. January 27: Flying Fish at Disney’s BoardWalk will welcome you back with their signature seafood dishes. Of course, they also have steak offerings. Favorite entrées include The Seafood Pearl Pasta which includes shrimp, lobster, scallops, clams, and mussels. Or, seafood lovers may prefer the Plancha-seared Scallops accompanied with savory grits, sweet corn, and Peppadew emulsion. For dessert, Flying Fish has a few great choices, including a chocolate-lover favorite: the Cocoa Breach accompanied with delicious vanilla custard. January 31: The Ale & Compass Restaurant at Disney's Yacht Club Resort is back with some favorite breakfast options and new lunch offerings. Why not start with some Blueberry Bacon Pancakes. February 3: The Turf Club Bar and Grill at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort will once again be off to the races. It has a well-earned reputation for offering delicious American flavors in every dish. A classic appetizer here is the New York Cider-braised Mussels with garlic, chorizo, fennel, Fresno chili, and apple cider topped with a grilled baguette. Good picks for a main course include the Grilled Pork Chop or Braised Lamb Tagliatelle. And for cheesecake fans, there's a great New York Cheesecake on the menu. February 15: Cape May Café offers a little New England vibe where you can again feast on an all-you-care-to-enjoy, buffet breakfast with tasty items like pull-a-part bread with vanilla sauce, beef hash, and an omelet station. And what breakfast is complete without Mickey and Minnie waffles? The buffet continues at dinner with options like cornbread, seasonal harvest salad, seafood boil, and a daily carving station, just to name a few. You can also upgrade with snow crab legs or even a whole lobster, both purchased by the pound. February 17: Jiko – The Cooking Place reopens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge featuring the tastes and flavors of African, Indian, and Mediterranean cuisine. Worth a try is the Seafood Tagine featuring prawns scallops, squid, and Littleneck clams. If you like shellfish, this one's for you. For dessert, the Kilimanjaro dessert is back. It's a work of art that tastes great too. Decadent dark chocolate mousse, pistachio financier, pink peppercorn meringue, cacao nib crunch, and ras el hanout pineapples. Is your mouth watering yet? The All-New Grand Floridian Spa Opens January 26 at Walt Disney World The Grand Floridian Spa has been refreshed featuring the iconic Victorian-style theme of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Inside you'll find a tranquil Floridian garden with serene calm lighting and gentle music. There is a wide range of treatments and massages from which to choose. Experience The Grand Massage or Massage for Two, which incorporate botanical lotions and other elements to release tension and fatigue and replenish the mind, body and spirit. Or, destress with Nature’s Renewal Hydrating Treatment, which combines a full body exfoliation with a hydrating botanical massage. A full range of salon services are also available including haircuts, styling and The Grand Manicure and Pedicure Treatments. The Grand Floridian Spa’s nail treatments provide the ultimate pampering experience with exfoliation, mask, massage and choice of nail lacquer. Plus, you can visit the relaxation lounge before or after their treatments. Advance reservations are recommended and can be made online for dates starting January 26, 2022. Thank You for Listening to The Disney Travel Podcast Thank you for joining us at 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 and the latest Disney travel news on 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 News Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com. 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 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 |
About the Editor
Mike Belobradic is the founder of the 1923 Main Street® Disney Travel Podcast and the Luxury Disney Travel Blog. Archives
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