Skip to main content
disney things

5 Disney Things You Should Know This Week – April 15, 2016

Each Friday, I provide 5 Disney things all Disney fans should know from this past week, just in case you missed them. Here are the super important Disney news items for this week:

 Fastpass+ Changes

fast passes

This week, Walt Disney World made some significant changes to their FastPass+ system. While not all the issues are resolved with the system, these changes go a long way towards making it much more guest friendly.

  • You will now be able to choose individual FastPass+ experiences and times, and will no longer need to make all selections for the same day at the same time.
  • While you will continue to be able to select up to three experiences in advance, they now will be able to book fewer than three selections, if desired.
  • In addition, when you have used their first three FastPass+ selections, you will now be able to make an additional FastPass+ selection via the My Disney Experience mobile app, in addition to in-park kiosks. You will no longer be forced to find one of the kiosks in the park. Once you have used the fourth, they will be able to select another, and so on.

For more information on these new FastPass changes: FastPass+ Changes

2017 Summer Disney Cruises

2017 Summer Disney Cruises

Disney Cruise Line released additional 2017 Cruise itineraries and dates for all four Disney Cruise ships. Bookings for cruises are not available through September, 2017. Disney Cruise will be sailing to both Alaska and Europe during the Summer of 2017, and some great cruises have been added from Florida as well, including 4 and 5-night cruises on the Disney Dream with 2 days on Castaway Cay, as well as a 10 and an 11-night Southern Caribbean cruise on the Disney Fantasy.

Check out the details: 2017 Disney Cruises

An update on Disney After Hours

Several weeks ago, Walt Disney World announced Disney After Hours, a new night time event hosted in the Magic Kingdom. The cost is $149 per person, and grants you 3 hours in the Magic Kingdom after the park closes (the ticket also gets you into the Magic Kingdom 3 hours before closing, so you do get 6 hours in total in the park). Last night, April 14, as the very first night of Disney After Hours. We had an agent in the park, she sacrificed herself for the cause. While very little details were released when announced, you can see from the image below that basically all attractions are open during the event. Last night, it was reported that there were less than 1,000 people in the park for those three hours. Lines were completely nonexistent, and our agent was able to ride every single ride in the Magic Kingdom in less than 3 hours. I think she is still asleep.

While $149 per person is a lot of money, there are some situations where it may be worth it. Disney After Hours isn’t for everyone, but it may be great for some, which is the whole idea.

Disney After Hours

Amorette’s Patisserie Opens May 15 at Disney Springs

mickey cake

If you have a bit of a sweet tooth, this may be right up your alley. Amorette’s Patisserie is set to open in Disney Springs on May 15, 2016. Classic and contemporary cakes and pastries are the stars in this high-end pastry shop where guests can watch pastry chefs decorate signature cakes in the on-stage finishing kitchen. Even the beautiful boutique-style packaging, inspired by old-fashioned hatboxes, lends to the sophisticated feel of the location. I can’t wait!

Night of Joy Tickets now on Sale

night of joy

The annual Christian Music festival is coming to Walt Disney World again in 2016. Tickets are now on sale. This 2 day event features many of the world’s best known contemporary christian artists. One big change this year, the festival will be held at Disney’s Wide World of Sports rather than in the Magic Kingdom.

There are a few different ticket options:

  • A single-night, concert only ticket for Friday, September 9 – $39 plus tax (in advance); $45 the day of the show (if available).
  • A single-night concert and one-day Disney theme park ticket (valid for one of the four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks) for Saturday, September 10 – $99 plus tax (in advance); $114 plus tax the day of the show (if available).*
  • A two-night concert ticket (which includes both nights’ concerts and one-day Disney theme park ticket (valid for one of the four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks) – $119 plus tax (in advance).*

And, if that weren’t enough, guests who purchase the two-day ticket on or before August 9, 2016 will also receive one (1) admission to their choice of Disney’s Blizzard Beach or Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon valid from September 6 – September 12, 2016.

Check out NightofJoy.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

Did I miss any Disney news this week that should have been included?

Disney Things

5 Disney Things You Should Know This Week – March 25, 2016

Each Friday, I provide 5 Disney things all Disney fans should know from this past week, just in case you missed them. Here are the super important Disney news items for this week:

Disney After Hours

disney after hours

Well, who would have thought that an announcement about a new event in the Magic Kingdom would have caused such an uproar? Do you think when they announced Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party that folks freaked out? I highly doubt it.

Disney After Hours is a new night time event in the Magic Kingdom, a chance for anyone willing to pay the opportunity to enjoy a basically empty Magic Kingdom for a three hours after the park closes. The cost will be $149 per person plus tax, and currently, Disney After Hours is only available on select nights in April and May, 2016. While dates later in the year have not yet been announced, I am sure that future availability will depend on the success of these first few nights.

For more information about Disney after Hours: Disney After Hours

Plus, if you would like, I wrote my feelings about Disney After Dark here on dis/dom for all to read (Spoiler – I like it): My Thoughts on Disney After Dark

Disney Parks themed Heads Up pack now available

whats up disney

If you have waited in any Disney theme park line recently, or really, any line I guess, you most likely have noticed groups of people playing the popular Heads Up! game on the phones. It is an electronic version of the old heads up game we used to play as kids, I put the answer on my forehead for others to see, they have to give me clues so I can figure it out without saying what it is. This week, Disney announced they have released a special Disney Theme Parks pack for Heads Up!, which should just make it so that more people in line will be playing the game as we all wait or Space Mountain.

By the way, while the app is $.99, but once inside the Disney theme parks or at Aulani, you will be able to download the Disney theme park pack for free!

For more information: Disney Theme Park pack for Whats Up!

2016 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party dates announced

disney world halloween

Walt Disney Wold has finally announced the dates for the 2016 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, plus some information about policy changes for this year. If you plan on going, read up so you aren’t caught unaware. Tickets are not yet available, but should go on sale sometime in early May. Here are the announced dates for 2016:

  • September – 2, 8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 29, 30
  • October – 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31

For more information, you can head here: 2016 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

D-Luxe Burger Opening in Disney Springs

dluxe burger disney springs

If you happen to be a hamburger fan, or maybe a fan of milk shakes, this may be your new Disney Springs hangout. The new D-Luxe Burger is scheduled to open this May at Town Center at Disney Springs. Check out these burger options!

  • Classic Cheeseburger – Beef patty topped with cheddar, lettuce, tomato and pickle
  • Barbeque Classic Burger – Beef patty topped with a fried onion ring, smoked Gouda, bacon, barbeque sauce and lettuce
  • El Diablo Burger – Chorizo-and-signature-blend patty, fried banana peppers, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato and chipotle mayonnaise
  • Southern Classic Burger – Beef patty, topped with fried-green tomato, pimento cheese, lettuce and bacon
  • Cluck Burger – Ground chicken patty, garlic herb sauce, avocado, lettuce and tomato
  • Veggie Burger – house-made patty topped with Tzatziki, green bean salad, lettuce and tomato

Last few days to book the Disney Cruise 50% off deposit deal

 

If you are thinking about a Disney Cruise in 2016, get it booked in the next few days. Disney Cruise is currently offering 50% off the deposit due as an incentive to book your cruise before March 28. Normally, DCL requires a roughly 20% deposit, so if your cruise is around $5,000, your deposit will be around $1,000. With this “special”, your deposit is only around $500!

For more information: Disney Cruise 50% off Deposit

Did I miss any Disney news this week that should have been included?