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.

Ticket Sale Dates Announced for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

April 6, 2021

 

Disney fans – at least the ones in California – start your engines!  Disney has released the dates for ticket sales for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.  Theme park ticket sales will resume on April 15 at 8 AM Pacific Time.

 

At this stage, California state guidelines still limit attendance to California residents only.  The parks are scheduled to reopen on April 30.

In addition to valid theme park admission tickets, park guests must also make mandatory theme park reservations.  Advanced online reservations will open on April 12, no earlier than 8 AM Pacific Time, for visitors with previously purchased tickets. Other guests may begin making park reservations after they purchase tickets, beginning April 15.  Guests with multi-day tickets must make a park reservation for each date of their visit.

 

Guests must also abide by mask and social distancing guidelines to enter the parks.

 

Park Hopping will be available when the parks reopen. According to Disney, “Guests who purchase or have a Park Hopper ticket and an appropriate park reservation may visit the second park on the same day beginning at 1 PM. Please check the Park Hours calendar and the Disneyland app for the most up-to-date Park Hopper hours, as they could start earlier at a later date, depending on the day and park. Guests with Park Hopper tickets must make a park reservation for the first park they plan to visit AND enter that first park prior to visiting the other park. At this time, a park reservation is not required after the first park, however, reservation requirements are subject to change. Please note that the ability to visit the other park will be subject to that park’s capacity limitations.”

 

FASTPASS, Disney MaxPass services, Magic Morning and Extra Magic Hour offerings are suspended at the current time as Disney manages the State’s theme park/COVID reopening guidelines and attendance capacities.

 

For detailed and up-to-the-minute instructions, check the Disneyland website.

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

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Welcome Back, Park Hopping!

by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

November 21, 2020

 

When Disney World reopened in July after its COVID closure, one of the biggest disappointments for park guests was the suspension of Park Hopper passes. An add-on, paid feature to a guest’s park ticket or annual pass, “Park Hoppers” allowed visitors to enjoy more than one park in a single day.  

You could start your day in the Magic Kingdom, then head to the EPCOT restaurants for dinner.  Enjoy Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios, then head over for EPCOTs Food and Wine Festival. Ride Test Track in the morning at EPCOT, then explore the luminescent magic of Pandora at night in the Animal Kingdom. Guests could pack a whole lot more activities into their stay by jumping from park to park.

 

Yesterday (November 20), there was big news in Disney World as the resort continues expanding its offerings during its phased-in reopenings. Starting January 1, 2021, Disney is bringing back a modified Park Hopper option.  

 

After adding the Park Hopper option to their tickets, guests will still need to make reservations for their first park of the day, and physically go to that park and check in, enjoying what that park has to offer. After 2 p.m., however, they can then head to another Disney park of their choice, enjoying that park until closing without needing a second park reservation. (As January approaches, park hopping may potentially begin later than 2 p.m., so keep an eye on the My Disney Experience App for confirmation of start time.  Entrance to a second park will also be subject to that park’s capacity for the day.)

 

This news follows an announcement last week from Disney CEO Bob Chapek at Disney’s Quarterly earnings call that attendance limitations were increased from 25% capacity to 35% capacity as Disney heads into its traditionally busy holiday season.

 

Detailed information is available on the Park Hopper ticket options here. You can also check DisneyWorld.com/ParkHours and the My Disney Experience app for the most up-to-date Park Hopper hours as January approaches.

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Pre-order The Disney Planner 2021: The TO DO List Solution today!

 

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