Disney to Swap Out Water Parks Beginning March 19

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 6, 2023

 

Time for the seasonal switcheroo at Disney World’s two water parks, with one park closing for refresh and maintenance while the other reopens in time for the specially ticketed nighttime “H2O Glow Nights.”

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Typhoon Lagoon will be reopening on March 19, 2023, while Blizzard Beach will temporarily close that same day to undergo a refurbishment.  This was pretty typical of the water parks’ schedule pre-pandemic, when the two parks would take turns closing for maintenance during winter months, when fewer guests were heading to the water parks anyway.

 

H2O Glow Nights are a chance for swimmers to experience lower than usual park crowds while enjoying DJ dance parties, specialty snacks, and character meet and greets after the park closes for the day to regular guests.  Typhoon Lagoon’s After Hours H2O Glow nights return on select evenings beginning May 20, 2023.  Ice cream novelties, popcorn, and select fountain beverages are included in the cost of the ticket. Tickets for the glow nights are currently on sale.

 

The water parks usually have their own distinct treats for purchase as well, with the new “Pineapple Upside Down Cone” and a “Pineapple flatbread” debuting at Typhoon Lagoon to share the park’s tropical theme.  A unique assortment of specialty Dole Whip desserts can also be found at Typhoon Lagoon.

 

Typhoon Lagoon is the #1 attended water park in North America, with more than 2.2 million visitors a year, according to recent data from the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA). The water park is home to the largest wave pool in North America, as well as “Ketchakiddee Creek,” a water playground especially designed for the youngest members of your water-bound crew. “Crush ‘n’ Gusher” offers a 400 foot long coaster-like thrill, and “Miss Adventure Falls” is a whitewater adventure-style raft ride for families. And if you are looking to learn a new skill while you are on vacation, Typhoon Lagoon also offers surf lessons.

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

New Disney After Hours Events Added on Both Coasts

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

February 22, 2023

 

After-hours events are a hot topic at Disney this week, with new events scheduled for both Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California. Disney World is even adding a park that has never been featured before as one of its upcoming after hours events.

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

At Disney World, EPCOT will be joining the list of parks offering these specially ticketed experiences to guests seeking lower crowds during their vacations. The three-hour-long events take place from 10:00 pm to 1:00 am, after the parks close to day guests, and typically include early entry into the parks on party nights (as early as 7:00 pm, so you can get in more than the 3 party hours!), low-wait access to park rides, lots of (included) snacks at carts throughout the park, unique character meet-and-greets, dance parties and more.

Also at Disney World, H2O Glow After Hours will be returning to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park from 8:00-11:00 pm on 18 select nights from May to September, with glow-lights, specialty snacks, and DJ dance parties. Hollywood Studios has added more dates to the line-up for that park, and Magic Kingdom’s nighttime parties are already underway as well.

This year’s new parties are scheduled to kick off May 20 at Typhoon Lagoon and June 1 at EPCOT. Magic Kingdom’s parties continue through March 27 (tickets are already on sale), and Hollywood Studios has added additional dates beginning May 3 to their often sold out events. Tickets are on sale now for the existing Hollywood Studios’ dates (through April 19), with the new May and June party dates going on sale March 3. (If this all seems a bit unwieldy, each park has its own event page with the details on dates, times and prices at DisneyWorld.com/AfterHours.)

 
According to Disney Parks Blog, “Event tickets for EPCOT, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Hollywood Studios can be purchased by all guests starting March 3, 2023, with prices ranging from $75 to $149 (plus tax). Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels can begin purchasing Disney After Hours tickets for EPCOT and Typhoon Lagoon as early as February 28. The advance-purchase window is available to guests at Disney Resort hotels and Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, as well as Shades of Green at Walt Disney World Resort.”

There are ticket discounts available for Annual Pass Holders and Disney Vacation Club holders for certain dates, and ticket prices vary by date and by park event.

For the complete list of the Disney World parks with upcoming after hours events, as well as the dates and times, again, check out DisneyWorld.com/AfterHours.  Tickets for the events can also be purchased through that link.

Over on the west coast, Disneyland has added two more themed after dark parties to its existing themed nites, such as the already sold out March 2023 Princess Nites. The new additions are: Disneyland After Dark: Throwback Nite and Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite.

 

Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Disneyland After Dark begins with a three-hour pre-party mix-in from 6 p.m. to  9 p.m. at Disneyland park, then the private party begins from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.  In addition to low ride wait times, party guests at Disneyland After Dark get unlimited digital downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos taken during the party.

Disneyland After Dark: Throwback Nite takes place April 18 and 20, 2023, at Disneyland Park. Guests are encouraged to dress up in their favorite “flashback fashions” from the ‘50s and ‘60s while they enjoy music from “the first decade of Disneyland park.” They may even see Mickey and friends dressed in their best throwback attire!

According to Disney Parks Blog, Throwback Nite also includes the chance to:

 

• Gaze upon “Fantasy in the Sky,” a nighttime spectacular giving a nod to the same-named fireworks display that first illuminated the night in Disneyland park in 1957!
• Do the twist, the mashed potato and bunny hop your way to dance parties around Disneyland park with bands and deejays inspired by the era.
• Snack like it’s 1955 with treats that are inspired by the park’s early days, made once again just for this event!
• Picture yourself in vintage photo backdrops of attractions and posters from yesteryear like Skyway or Autopia, and from timeless Disney films captured by Disney PhotoPass photographers at the party.
• Enjoy after-hours access to iconic Disneyland attractions such as Peter Pan’s Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise.
• Enjoy pre-party mix-in admission to Disneyland park starting at 6 p.m., no theme park reservation required.

 

If you prefer your entertainment from a “Galaxy Far, Far Away,” Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite may be more your style.  This event takes place May 2, 4, 8 & 11, 2023, from 9:00 pm to 1:00 am at Disneyland Park.  Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite even lets you come dressed as your favorite Star Wars hero or villain, and:

 

• Be wowed watching “Star Wars: Celebrate the Nite”  as fireworks illuminate the skies above Disneyland park. This pyrotechnic spectacle is set to the powerful music of Star Wars films.
• Prepare for Captain Phasma and her Stormtroopers during the March of the First Order in Tomorrowland, as they search for a Resistance spy.
• You may encounter travelers across the galaxy like Tusken Raiders and Jawas. 
• Get ready to master a lightsaber! Attend the Lightsaber Instructional demonstration, where you will learn to handle a lightsaber through a series of elite moves, sure to bring out your inner Jedi!
• Picture yourself in dynamic photo backdrops featuring some of the galaxy’s favorite heroes and villains, captured by Disney PhotoPass photographers at the party.
• Explore themed snacks such as galactic churros and other out-of-this-world sweets!
• Begin your adventure with pre-party mix-in admission to Disneyland park starting at 6 p.m., no theme park reservation required.

 

A limited number of Disneyland After Dark tickets went on pre-sale for Magic Key holders on February 21, 2023, on Disneyland.com. (As of this writing, Presale Magic Key tickets for Star Wars Nite are already sold out). Tickets for the general public go on sale on February 23, 2023 (9 a.m. PT), and are subject to availability, and range from $129 for the April 18 Throwback Nite, to $145 for the April 20 Throwback Nite, to $149 to $169 for Star Wars Nite, depending on the date. Check the Disneyland website for all the pertinent details on the tickets, costuming, and up-to-date availability.

And a note to those who may be vacationing at Disney during these time frames, even if you aren’t planning on attending an after-hours party:  the parks often close earlier than expected on party nights, so pay attention to the park closing times ahead of your trip so you don’t get caught off-guard. You may want to choose a different park to visit that day so you don’t lose valuable park time due to early closing hours at certain parks.

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

Disney Cancels Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and H2O Glow Nights; Makes Changes to Food and Wine Festival; Park Hopping Suspended

by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 19, 2020

We’re here for the party – or maybe not.

I got whiplash this morning. Disney dropped a big party announcement last night, cancelling the 2020 season for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, and making some significant changes to Epcot’s annual Food and Wine Festival. While the Eat to the Beat concerts will be cancelled, the Food and Wine Festival will still take place, beginning even earlier than usual. Additionally, H2O Glow Nights at the water parks have been cancelled. 

And if you’re planning to take your vacation in the early days of the reopening, Disney also announced today that park hopping has been temporarily suspended. Plans for accessing the new reservation system are also being released today. 

The cancellation of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is not surprising, and even somewhat anticipated by those who have made the party an annual family tradition. (Last year, Disney offered a specially priced season long pass for party nights.) Even before Disney’s official announcement, however, most people scratched their heads trying to figure out how in the world Disney could even think about pulling such an event off this year, given the current COVID restrictions and social distancing.

Apparently, Disney was wondering the same thing. According to the Disney Parks Blog, “We determined that many of its hallmarks — stage shows, parades and fireworks — are unable to take place in this new, unprecedented environment.” 

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is an after-hours, extra ticketed event. It’s a blast, for sure, but it has become increasingly crowded in recent years, particularly as the calendar creeps closer to the actual Halloween date. (Halloween, in Disney’s time frame, typically begins in August, with the earliest parties sometimes occurring as early as mid-August.) Given the fact that parades, fireworks, stage shows, and standing too close in line are current no-nos, it stands to reason that the Halloween Party would be a no-go, since all four of those things are prominent features of the party. 

The “Boo to You Parade” with its unique music and Halloween specific costuming is a favorite among many park guests, and typically runs twice a night during the parties. The fireworks show is also a stand out, featuring a brand new story projection on the castle last year, accompanied by extravagant fireworks with partygoers crammed into the castle hub and along Main Street. The appearance of the life-sized Jack Skellington puppet on the castle stage as part of the fireworks show adds to the congestion closer to the castle. Don’t forget the Hocus Pocus show, either, with everyone converging on the hub to see the Sanderson sisters up to their old tricks. Then there are the candy lines – oh, the candy lines! Tubs and tubs of trick or treat locations where cast members hand out fistfuls of your favorite sugary delights. The treat trails wind their way past rides, and through attractions that are closed for the occasion – very little chance to keep those lines adequately socially distant.

Epcot is scheduled to reopen on July 15, and will jump right in to offering its annual Food and Wine Festival on its very first day of operation. Food and Wine typically begins in the last days of August or first few days of September. Indeed, many park visitors will schedule their vacations to include both the Halloween Party and the Food and Wine Festival in the same trip.

The arrival of the Food and Wine Festival is a happy surprise for most guests. Speculation was that there was a strong possibility that Food and Wine would not take place for 2020. The Swan and Dolphin had already announced last week that their 11^thAnnual Food & Wine Classic, scheduled for November 6 and 7, had been cancelled due to COVID and would not be rescheduled until 2021. (See story here.) Lines can be long for fan favorite booths at Epcot - Frushi, anyone? – and social distancing is difficult on a normal day at the festival. Perhaps starting the festival earlier when park attendance is more limited will allow the event to hit its stride and work out any glitches along the way.

This year’s Food and Wine Festival is billed as “A Taste of the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival” and will offer more than 20 “signature global marketplaces like Hawaii, Hops & Barley, and the Islands of the Caribbean, spaced out around the park,” according to the Disney Parks Blog.

While the Food and Wine festival will begin much earlier than usual (with no closing date specified), the Eat to the Beat concerts accompanying the festival have been cancelled. One of the signature events of the festival, Eat to the Beat features dozens of performers offering up free mini-concerts three times each evening at the America Garden Theatre in World Showcase. Previous performers have ranged from Boys II Men to Taylor Dayne, MercyMe, Lauren Daigle, Smash Mouth, Tiffany, Kenny G, Billy Ocean, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Sawyer Brown, and Sugar Ray. Disney’s resident musical acts such as the JAMMitors and Mariachi Cobre will continue to perform throughout World Showcase during the day.

Over at Typhoon Lagoon water park, H2O Glow Nights have gone dark for 2020. An up-and-coming favorite, H2O Glow Nights is also an after-hours, special ticketed event with plenty of upbeat music and lots of glow in the dark decorations, fun bracelets and high energy entertainment.

Your next question is: What about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, or the Epcot Festival of the Holidays with its celebrity-read Candlelight Processional?  No word from Disney on those events yet. Stay tuned as we wind our way through rapidly changing COVID numbers and restrictions.

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See related...

“Dining Reservations Now Available for Walt Disney World Resort Hotel Guests”

“Hong Kong Disneyland Reopening Announced”

“Disneyland in California Reopening Announced”

“Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Set To Reopen July 29”

“Florida Quarantine Remains for Travelers from New York Tri-State”

“Disney Experience Updated: Parks Reopening and What It Will Look Like”

“Disney World Gets Official Go Ahead to Open, But Disney Has Cancelled Your Dining Plans and More”

“Disney Announces Reopening Dates for Walt Disney World”

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.