Since our last WDW Update, there’s been a lot of news to share. From frustrating additions and scary storms to holiday preparations and construction chaos, you won’t want to miss this trip through The Most Magical Place on Earth.
So, let’s jump right in…
Expensive Lightning Strikes WDW
Our top news story comes in the form of another confusing layer to Disney’s Lightning Lane system (mostly confusing because, once you hear the price, you may be scratching your head). It’s called the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, and it hits Walt Disney World on Oct. 30, 2024.
This new addition is a premium product… and it comes at a premium cost. When Lightning Lane Premier launches, prices will range from $129 to $449 per person, per day (plus tax), depending on the date and park.
So, what’s included? Well, that’s the good part. Guests who purchase the Premier Pass will enjoy one-time entry to all Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass Lightning Lane entrances in the park they’re visiting that day, and they don’t even have to schedule their rides. They’ll simply head to their line of choice and scan in.
But wait, there’s a catch. Walt Disney World guests will only be able to use the Lightning Lane Premier Pass at one park per day (even if they have a park hopper ticket). But they can still purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass and/or Lightning Lane Single Pass for additional parks if they’re planning to hop.
What do you think? Is this worth the cost?
If you’re a confused, head to our article for a full guide:
Disney Lightning Lanes: Premier, Multi, or Single – What You Need to Know
Hurricanes Hit
It’s definitely hurricane season in Florida and the state was recently hit by back-to-back by powerful storms that caused operational changes and closures at many major theme parks, including Disney and Universal.
Since it opened in 1971, Walt Disney World has closed 13 times for hurricanes, with 23 operational days impacted (early closing, late opening, or full closure). Since Hurricane Helene hit Florida’s west coast, Disney kept the parks open (though Typhoon Lagoon was closed and Mickey’s-Not-So-Scary Halloween party was canceled on Sept. 26, 2024).
However, when Hurricane Milton made a beeline for Orlando two weeks later, Disney closed early on Oct. 9, 2024, and remained closed on Oct.10, 2024. Plus, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party was canceled again. Thankfully, the resort did not sustain major damage and guests and cast members were able to safely ride out the storm.
To help Florida move forward after Hurricane Milton, Disney is investing $3 million to assist cast members, the local community, and nonprofits in recovery efforts.
In addition, thousands of meals were delivered to Second Harvest Food Bank and Osceola Council on Aging, and donations were made before hurricane season to help nonprofits gather supplies for storm shelters. The Disney Employee Relief Fund was also activated to help Disney employees whose homes were affected by the hurricane. Furthermore, Disney has provided repair services, mental health resources, backup adult and child care, and food, water, and ice distribution.
To find out more about Hurricane Helene’s impact on the theme parks, visit our dedicated article:
UPDATED! Storm or Shine: How Central Florida Theme Parks Are Handling Hurricane Helene
Read about Hurricane Milton’s impact here:
The Clean-up After the Storm: Florida’s Theme Parks Re-Open After Hurricane Milton
New WDW 2025 Discounts
It’s no secret that a trip to Walt Disney World is costly, so taking advantage of promotions is an essential part of the vacation planning process. Discounts are often offered for tickets, dining, or hotels, so make sure to find out everything that’s available before booking your trip.
There’s good news for travelers planning a visit in 2025 because Disney World is offering the following deals: Save up to $200 per night with a 3-night, 2-day room and ticket package or Save up to 25% on room-only bookings at select Disney Resort hotels.
The new year also brings with it a new perk for water park fans as guests staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel in 2025 will receive water park admission on check-in day
Don’t forget, Disney Resort hotel guests can also take advantage of a 30-minute early entry to the parks, which we highly recommend as it gives you a better chance of experiencing top attractions.
Good news for our readers, you can book Disney’s best ticket and travel deals… plus additional ones from off-property hotels… from our partners at Get Away Today (HERE).
Countdown to Christmas
Christmas is just around the corner, and the seasonal celebrations at Walt Disney World will kick off on Nov. 12, 2024.
EPCOT Holiday Entertainment
Let’s begin with one of Disney’s most beloved holiday traditions, the Candlelight Processional at the America Gardens Theatre, which features the Biblical story of Christmas read by a celebrity narrator, a 50-piece orchestra, herald trumpets, the Voices of Liberty, and a mass choir of Disney cast members and young singers from the community.
This year’s slate of celebrity narrators were recently announced for performances from Nov. 29 to Dec. 29, 2024, at 5 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:15 p.m. (Times have been adjusted this year.)
Here are the list of narrators and the dates for 2024:
- 11/29 – 11/30 Josh Gad
- 12/1 – 12/2 Nico Santos (NEW)
- 12/3-12/5 Chrissy Metz
- 12/6 – 12/7 Whoopi Goldberg
- 12/8 – 12/10 Tituss Burgess (NEW)
- 12/11 – 12/12 Brendan Fraser
- 12/13 – 12/14 Ralph Macchio (NEW)
- 12/15 – 12/16 Gary Sinise
- 12/17 – 12/18 Neil Patrick Harris
- 12/19 – 12/21 Pat Sajak
- 12/22 – 12/23 Gloria Estefan
- 12/24 – 12/26 Edward James Olmos
- 12/27 – 12/28 Sterling K Brown
- 12/29 – 12/30 Jodi Benson
Dining packages can be booked online starting Oct. 29 and include 15 eatery options (for breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and reserved seating for one of the three shows.
Check out our guide for more information on Disney’s Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World and Disneyland:
Disney Candlelight Processional 2024 Narrators, Dates, and History!
Seasonal stories will also come to life at World Showcase via Holiday Storytellers. Check out the different pavilions to see how various cultures celebrate the season.
EPCOT’s Behind the Seeds Tour gets a revamp for holiday evenings in the form of a Gimmering Greenhouses Tour.
Talk about magical! From Nov. 29 through Dec. 30, guests can partake in a walking tour through The Land Pavilion to explore the Glimmering Greenhouses.
The tour is available at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. and features a jolly twist this time of year, teaching guests about crops that bring festive flavors to holiday traditions set against a backdrop of brilliant light displays. Same-day reservations and walk-ins are possible, but reservations are highly recommended and can be made online or in the My Disney Experience app.
Guests interested in the non-holiday version can still embark on the regular Behind the Seeds tour during the daytime.
Animal Kingdom Holiday Festivities
Let’s head over to Disney’s beautiful Animal Kingdom Theme Park next!
Walt Disney World guests are used to seeing Santa sail through the waterways during holiday cavalcades, but new this year, they can meet him on the Restaurantosaurus patio for the 75th Annual Dino Institute Holiday Party from Nov. 12 – Dec. 24, 2024.
The Merry Menagerie will also return to Discovery Island this holiday season featuring enchanting winter animal puppets. Themed merchandise will also be available.
Guests can visit Mickey and Minnie dressed in their holiday best at Adventurers Outpost, and witness the spirits of winter animals coming to life after dark at the Tree of Life Awakenings.
Holidays at Hollywood Studios
Over in Hollywood Studios, details recently emerged about new offerings coming to Disney’s ever-evolving studio park.
Three new entertainment acts will provide festive fun for the whole family starting Nov. 12.
- Juggling Elves – Juggling, comedy and more
- Holiday Spirit Band – Jolly tunes from a brass group
- Seasons Jukebox – Holiday classics, collegiate marching band-style
Dates and showtimes listed in the My Disney Experience app.
Also starting Nov. 12, Hollywood Studios guests can enjoy a holiday overlay to For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, a Santa meet and greet at It’s A Wonderful Shop, and Sunset Seasons Greetings complete with festive projections on The Hollywood Tower Hotel plus magical snowfall along Sunset Boulevard after sunset.
This year, Disney Jollywood Nights hosts a new skating spectacular called “Glisten!” featuring routines paired with holiday music. Guests will be treated to original songs and Disney favorites like “Be Our Guest” and “When You Wish Upon A Star.”
Check out this fun teaser for a sneak peek at “Glisten!”:
Other 2024 Jollywood Nights additions include:
A new Pixar-themed dance party with Joy, Frozone, Edna Mode, and more…
A peek behind the scenes of “The Muppet Christmas Carol” for a movie-star moment in the Stage 1 Company Store
Meet-And Greets with new characters, including José Carioca and Panchito from “The Three Caballeros,” Bo Peep, Lotso, Baloo, King Louie from “TaleSpin,” and The Mandalorian in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
For even more characters, check out the video below:
View this post on Instagram
In addition to festive entertainment, new and returning menu items will delight guests of the event! Here’s a look at a few of the festive offerings.
Plus, guests will be gifted a Wondermade marshmallow treat when they exit
Here’s a fun video preview of the Jollywood Nights event:
For more information on all things Christmas, check out our ultimate Disney World guide:
TRON Lightcycle / Run Revisit
On Sept. 9, Magic Kingdom’s TRON attraction exited the virtual queue. So, how are the standby queue and lightning lane treating guests so far? We visited the attraction in the evening on Sunday, Oct. 13, and were in for an unpleasant surprise.
It was shocking to see the standby queue backed up all the way to the store.
170 minute wait at 9:23 pm.
We only moved about 10 feet for the first 20 minutes, while lightning lane passengers were pushed through. Really makes you think about the negative impact of Lightning Lane in the parks.
Construction Kingdom
There’s not as much construction going on at Walt Disney World Resort as we see at Disneyland, but once we get to 2025, we expect that to change with the upcoming Tropical Americas project in Animal Kingdom and Frontierland expansion in Magic Kingdom.
Closed for Refurbishment:
- La Princesa de Cristal – Caribbean Plaza in Magic Kingdom Park
- Test Track in Epcot
- Test Track Attraction Photos
- Test Track SIMporium
Big Thunder Mountain Maintenance
Magic Kingdom’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is headed for a long refurbishment from Jan. 6, 2025, to a TBA date in 2026. The My Disney Experience App says the ride will reopen “with a little bit of new magic.” We suspect work may also be related to the Cars-themed Frontierland expansion that will take over the Rivers of America.
DinoLand U.S.A. Closures
Animal Kingdom will undergo an extended refurbishment at the beginning of the year as well. On Jan. 13, 2025, work will commence on the new Tropical Americas project slated to take over DinoLand, U.S.A.
TriceraTop Spin, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, and Fossil Fun Games will permanently close to make way for the new area scheduled to debut in 2027.
For details on what guests can look forward to post-transformation, check out our article:
DinoLand’s Extinction Near: Big Changes For Walt Disney World
Jungle Cruise
Magic Kingdom’s Jungle Cruise reopened on Wednesday, Oct. 16 after going down for refurbishment (see some of the work done in the video below).
The ride will transform into Jingle Cruise overnight, delighting guests starting Nov. 2.
Polynesian Tower Status
The end of the year brings the grand opening of the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
Here’s the remaining project timeline:
- Oct. 29 – Sales open to public
- Nov. 5 – New members can book with vacation points
- Nov. 19 – All members can book with vacation points
- Dec. 17 – Grand opening
And here’s a look at construction progress on the building’s exterior as of Oct. 3, 2024.
You can see turtle artwork on the side of the building!
For a look at the rooms and for everything you need to know about the new tower, check out our article:
Take a Look Inside WDW’s New Island Tower at the Polynesian Resort!
This & That
Star-Lord Dances Into EPCOT
Guardians of the Galaxy fans were treated to the triumphant return of one of the most entertaining characters in the Marvel franchise when Star-Lord danced his way back to EPCOT on Sept. 29.
Guests can meet the super hero in front of his super popular attraction Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
View this post on Instagram
Here’s a look at the character in 2018.
Pleasing Fantasia Pop-Up
A new shop popped up in Disney Springs on Sept. 28: Disney FANTASIA x Pleasing. Located in the former NBA Experience, the interactive store is described as “a wink and a nod to Walt Disney’s original vision for the film: an all-encompassing, innovative sensory experience that translates archival art into 3-D collaboration animations and moving visuals.”
We visited the pop-up when it debuted, and here’s a look around.
A water fountain surrounded by flowers adorns the store in a nod to the film.
Merchandise includes beauty products…
Hoodies and long-sleeved shirts featuring characters from Fantasia…
Collared long and short-sleeved shirts…
Hats, bags, notebooks…
and socks!
Here’s a little video walk-through of the store:
View this post on Instagram
Candy Cauldron Reopening
After closing for refurbishment in early August, Disney’s Candy Cauldron reopened in late September, offering guests a delicious assortment of spellbinding sweet treats just in time for Halloween.
Visitors can also watch Cast Members work their magic via the show kitchen.
”One bite and all your dreams will come true!”
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar Bites
New menu items landed at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar in September and they look amazing! Which would you try first?
Bread Dip Pyramid, Snakebite Bao Buns…
Air Tours Bacon and Waffles, Shrimp Fried Rice Bits…
Mine Car Meatballs, Club Obi-Wan Wings…
or Palawan Volcano Temple Dip…
Aren’t those creative? We’re not surprised being that the Indiana Jones-inspired eatery is brimming with character, and we hope it might eventually makes its way to the Disneyland Resort.
Welcome Baby Bakso
For the first time in seven years, Disney has welcomed a critically endangered Sumatran tiger cub to Animal Kingdom.
The birth of adorable Bakso is the successful result of a partnership between Disney’s animal care experts and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP), and with less than 600 Sumatran tigers left in the wild and managed care, Bakso’s birth is a reason to hope for the future of the species.
Disney’s animal care experts meticulously monitored the pregnancy of second-time mom, Sohni, with careful monitoring of Bakso’s mom Sohni, and dad Conrad (also an Animal Kingdom resident), plus ultrasounds and blood tests for Sohni to predict the exact moment of the cub’s birth.
Sumatran tiger cubs are under the care of their mothers until they are 18-24 months old, so guests will be able to watch Bakso grow alongside mom when they rejoin Maharaja Jungle Trek together in early 2025.
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Let’s Hear From You!
What do you think about the latest Lighting Lane news? Is it worth the extra money to ride every Lightning Lane attraction in a park without having to battle for return times? Are you ready for the Not-So-Scary season to transition into the merriest time of year? Which upcoming projects are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!
Related Reading:
It’s Alive – Universal’s Epic Universe Theme Park Will Be Monstrous!
Our thanks to Christy Weinberg, Samantha Davis-Friedman, Laura Gonzalez and the entire MiceChat Orlando crew for their help with today’s WDW Update!