Big News Day at Disney! TRON Launch Date; Changes to Annual Passes; and New Nighttime Entertainment Dates Released

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

January 10, 2023

 

Yowza, what a busy news day from the Disney Empire!

 
First came the news that the long-awaited TRON Lightcycle/Run at Magic Kingdom in Florida will open on April 4, 2023, with special preview days coming up before then for Cast Members, Annual Passholders, and Vacation Club members (watch your Disney email accounts for notifications on how and when to sign up).

Then came the new dates for the closing, and opening dates for the nighttime entertainment shows at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.  Harmonious (and its ugly “taco” barges) will see its last performance at EPCOT on April 2, 2023.  The next day, EPCOT Forever will make a brief return, and will serve as an interim show until the newest EPCOT show is ready to debut.  The barges will begin being dismantled the day after the final Harmonious performance.

Over at Magic Kingdom, “Disney Enchantment” will come to a close on April 2, 2023, with the glorious return of “Happily Ever After” with its well-loved fireworks extravaganza on April 3, 2023.  The show will be even better this time around, with projections stretching all the way down Main Street.  

 

And if all those tidbits weren’t enough to bring joy to the hearts of Disney fans, the Disney team announced a few very welcome changes to the Annual Passholder program, changes which will be warmly embraced by Disney guests.  Here are the three new updates:

 

1) Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will see their Park reservation requirements relaxed for visits after 2 p.m. 

According to the Disney Parks Blog, “Beginning in the next few months, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will be able to visit the theme parks after 2 p.m. without needing a park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom Park. Pass blockout dates will continue to apply like they do today.”  Woohoo! We can make a last-minute drop in to EPCOT to hit up the festival booths for dinner without scheduling it eons in advance!

2) Attraction photo downloads will be included with Disney Genie+ service.

Also beginning in the next few months, guests purchasing the Disney Genie+ service will receive digital downloads of their Disney PhotoPass attraction photos, taken in the park on the day of their purchase, at no additional charge. Some of these rides and attractions include: Space Mountain, Slinky Dog Dash, Test Track, and Expedition Everest. Passholders will also receive access to Disney PhotoPass lenses and one complimentary Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories experience.  

 

3) Passholders can now enjoy complimentary overnight self-parking, when staying at a Disney Resort hotel (beginning January 10). This one is a big money saver for Passholders, who, while they do get free parking at the Theme parks, found themselves shelling out $15 and up per night to park at the Resort Hotels they were staying at.

 

While the above changes are specific to Disney’s Florida resort, there are a number of changes coming for Disneyland as well.  At Disneyland Resort in California, Passholders/Magic Key Holders can:

 

1) Switch between parks even earlier with a Park Hopper ticket, beginning at 11 a.m. PT starting February 4.

Beginning February 4, 2023, guests who enter a Disneyland Resort theme park with a Magic Key pass or a Park Hopper ticket may begin crossing over between the parks two hours earlier – starting at 11 a.m. PT.

 

2) More opportunities to visit with a $104 park ticket.

The Disneyland Resort reservation calendar will offer nearly two months worth of $104 park ticket dates throughout 2023 (the lowest one-day, one-park ticket price). 

With the 100th Anniversary celebration underway, January 27 will see several new attractions on the west coast. Two new nighttime spectaculars –”Wondrous Journeys” at Disneyland park and “World of Color – ONE” at Disney California Adventure park will debut, and the Disneyland version of  Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will chug its way down the tracks.

 

3) Complimentary Disney PhotoPass digital attraction photos.  

Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads captured on any Disney PhotoPass available attraction during a park visit will be complimentary for all ticketed park guests on the Disneyland app starting February 4, throughout the Disney100 celebration at the Disneyland Resort. 

 

4) And here’s a biggie: More opportunities coming to join the Magic Key program.

Like Annual Passes in Florida, Magic Key passes in California have been hard to come by.  When they went back on sale last year, certain levels of the program sold out within hours.  As the Disney Parks Blog promises, “Disneyland Resort will make select Magic Key passes available for new sales from time to time throughout 2023 as pass inventory becomes available.” 

 

Keep an eye on Disneyland.com/MagicKey for sale dates and availability. And move quickly when you spot them!

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

Tokyo Disneyland Ready to Open Largest Park Expansion in Its History

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 19, 2020

 

In the past few months, with the focus on so many things that have not reopened, or have been cancelled, such as “Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party” at Disney World, the Candlelight Processional at Epcot, or Disneyland (California) itself, it is sometimes easy to overlook the strides that Disney is making in forging ahead in other areas. 

 

TRON construction photo, August 2020, DisneyBizJournal

This week, we’ve not only seen video proof that Magic Kingdom’s “TRON Lightcycle Run” construction is rapidly advancing, as shown in Wednesday’s video posting  from Imagineer Zach Riddley on the installation of the first of 40 pieces for the curved wave canopy for the Upload Conduit portion of the ride, but Tokyo Disneyland (which brought back its “Light the Night” fireworks show and “Nightfall Glow” mini-parade on September 1) made a significant announcement about their park expansion. The France pavilion at Epcot is progressing nicely as well, and work continues on the Halcyon, the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser-themed hotel near Hollywood Studios.

 

This week’s Tokyo Disneyland announcement brought welcome news that on September 28, Tokyo Disneyland will be officially opening the largest expansion in the park’s history. This three-year-long undertaking stretches across three of the park’s lands - Fantasyland, Tomorrowland and Toontown - bringing with it new rides, restaurants, and shops. The opening had been expected in April, but was delayed due to COVID-19 shutdowns.

Among the new offerings, three primary attractions stand out. In Fantasyland, the Beauty and the Beast story will come alive in the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast.  In the first ever ride-through attraction of Beauty and the Beast, guests will travel along in magical dancing tea cup vehicles through Beast’s castle, experiencing state-of-the-art animatronics and scenes and music from the movie. Maurice’s Cottage will be part of the setting in Belle’s village in Fantasyland, but the “wow” moment will undoubtedly be Beast’s nearly 100-foot tall castle reigning over the forest. 

 

In Tomorrowland, The Happy Ride with Baymax (based on Big Hero 6) will welcome guests to a rotating ride similar to Alien Swirling Saucers, while in Toontown, Minnie’s Style Studio provides a new Disney Character greeting experience. Guests will meet Minnie in the studio where she designs, creates and photographs her original clothing designs. On their way to greeting the fashion icon in her studio, visitors will get to walk through Minnie’s office and workroom. Minnie will appear in an ever-changing array of seasonal costumes that she has designed herself.

 

There will be a number of new dining opportunities debuting as well, including The Big Pop in Tomorrowland, a specialty popcorn shop with its gigantic popcorn chandelier, and a 200-seat counter service location, La Teverne de Gaston, in Fantasyland. La Teverne de Gaston  proudly displays trophies from Gaston’s many escapades, near his fireplace, of course, and serves Gaston’s favorite brew and entrees such as sausage in a croissant. Next door, LeFou's will also offer snacks and goodies for park guests, including a new-to-Tokyo Disneyland apple-caramel churro.  But if shopping is more your thing, The Village Shoppes in Fantasyland, including La Belle Librairie, Little Town Traders and Bonjour Gifts will be opening their doors for your souvenirs and treasures.

 

A 1,500-seat theatre slated as part of the expansion is expected to open at a later date. The Fantasyland Forest Theatre is the first theatre in the park, and will be home to the “Mickey’s Magical Music World” show.

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.