Star Wars Galactic Nights Returns December 2017, Including Panel on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge & More!

WDWNT on September 17, 2017

Holster your lightsabers and get in your X-Wings – Star Wars: Galactic Nights is returning! Held after park hours from 7 p.m.-midnight with a Hollywood-style launch party, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will welcome Star Wars fans to celebrate the entire Star Wars Saga on December 16th, 2017.

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Among many thrills in store, Guests can expect to enjoy Star Wars entertainment, special photo opportunities, event-exclusive merchandise and food & beverage, character greetings, a look at the ongoing Star Wars expansion coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and much more.

In addition to returning favorites like a Hollywood red carpet welcome, encounters with characters like Darth Vader and immersive photo backdrops of locations around the Star Wars galaxy, there are several thrilling new offerings for Guests to explore.

Event offerings include:

  • Star Wars Entertainment – Both Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular fireworks and the Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away stage show will be enhanced with special saga elements.
  • Sneak Peeks at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – The Epic Theater will play host to a special one-night-only panel discussion about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the 14-acre Star Wars expansion that’s set to open in 2019 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
  • Special Photo Ops – Throughout the park, Guests can step into immersive and iconic scenes from their favorite Star Wars films in a series of incredibly detailed photo locations, including new backdrops inspired by Star Wars Rebels and other scenes from the saga.
  • Character Encounters – Be on the lookout for Star Wars characters like Ewoks, AWR Troopers and roaming droids; Jedi Knights teaching younglings in Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple; rocketing to the stars aboard Star Tours – The Adventures Continue; and more.
  • Exclusive F&B and Merchandise – Even more specialty Star Wars-themed food and beverage and merchandise will be available.
  • Enjoy park attractions – Select attractions will be open to all guests. At embarkation points to Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, Guests may come face-to-face with Stormtroopers on the lookout for a Rebel spy.

Also new for this event, several premium offerings will be available to add on to the Star Wars Galactic Nights experience. Intergalactic foodies can nosh on Star Wars-inspired food and beverage with a Galactic Tasting Sampler, and intrepid, Force-sensitive Younglings can explore their abilities with a Jedi Recruitment package.

Tickets are priced at $129 adults, $124 ages 3-9, with discounts available for Annual Passholders & DVC Members. Guests are able to book now for this out-of-the-galaxy event by calling 407-W-DISNEY or visiting DisneyWorld.com.

You can check out a ton of video from the last Star Wars – Galactic Nights event in our post from April.

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UPDATE: Disney World Closing Water Parks, Aerophile Balloon Ahead of Hurricane Irma

WDWNT on September 17, 2017

Disney is already making some operational modifications in response to Hurricane Irma and some nasty weather that will arrive ahead of it.

Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park will be closed due to inclement weather on September 8th and 9th, 2017. Typhoon Lagoon has not announced a closure as of yet.

Meanwhile, at Disney Springs, the Aerophile balloon has already closed so it can be deflated ahead of the storm.

Stay tuned for further updates.

Holidays Around the World to Become Epcot International Festival of the Holidays in 2017

WDWNT on September 17, 2017

Holidays Around the World is transforming into Epcot International Festival of the Holidays from November 19 to December 30, 2017.

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Discover a festival like no other, featuring the joyous holiday traditions of our 11 World Showcase nations. Epcot® International Festival of the Holidays surrounds you in the wondrous sights, sounds and flavors of the season as celebrated by cultures near and far.

Delight in stirring live musical productions; savor seasonal food & beverage specialties at the expanded Holiday Kitchens; and take a festive global tour as costumed performers bring time-honored traditions to life throughout World Showcase!

New for 2017 is Chip and Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree. Chip and Dale are collecting ornaments for their Christmas tree, and they need your help! To get started, simply purchase a map and sticker from select merchandise locations, including Pin Central, Disney Traders and World Traveler at International Gateway. As you travel around World Showcase, be on the lookout for Chip and Dale as they gather ornaments from holiday decorations in each World Showcase pavilion. Once you spot them, add the corresponding ornament sticker to your map. Then, take your completed map to Disney Traders and exchange it for a festive surprise, courtesy of Chip and Dale! Maps are $6.99 plus tax, and are available throughout Holidays Around the World at Epcot while supplies last.

The Holiday Kitchens will return this year as well, including:

  • American Holiday Table
    From the tender roast turkey to the tasty pork tenderloin, memories of grandma’s kitchen will come flooding back when you visit this salute to the great flavors of America.
  • Feast of the Three Kings
    Dine like royalty as you enjoy scrumptious foods and delicious drinks from the Caribbean at this holiday kiosk inspired by the story of the Magi. While you nibble, learn about the celebration of Three Kings’ Day, El Día De Los Reyes Magos!
  • Holiday Sweets and Treats
    From decadent desserts to savory snacks and merry libations, you’ll be in full swing of the season at this festively-appointed holiday kiosk. Enjoy the view here at Showcase Plaza, meet up with friends or just take a moment to unwind.
  • Mexico
    Watch mariachi dancers celebrating a Feliz Navidad, while imbibing on the zippy spices of Mexican cuisine. The carnitas tacos and horchata margaritas will have you singing, “olé!”

The Candlelight Processional (along with dining packages for it), the IllumiNations holiday finale, and “Joyful! A Gospel Celebration” will all return as well despite the name change.

 

BREAKING: “Sunset Seasons Greetings” to Debut This Holiday Season at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on September 17, 2017

This holiday season, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will welcome “Sunset Seasons Greetings”, a projection experience on Sunset Boulevard.

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From November 9th through December 31st, 2017, guests can enjoy Sunset Boulevard as it is transformed into an unforgettable sight in the evenings. The billboards lining the tops of buildings on the boulevard will move and tell their own stories about the season with some memorable Disney characters, and even the Hollywood Tower Hotel (Twilight Zone Tower of Terror) will transform to tell the stories.

The Disney character moments will include:

  • The “Toy Story” characters making guesses at which new toys are coming to join them this Christmas as the scene becomes enveloped in wrapping paper
  • The Swedish Chef from The Muppets babbles as he does while turning the street into giant gingerbread houses
  • Mickey and Minnie looking back at a hometown Christmas as the scene turns into a beautiful Norman Rockwell-style town, starting in black and white before slowly developing color
  • Olaf dreaming of his holiday wish as the scene turns into a Frozen snowscape, with a beautiful Aurora Borealis and projected snowfall

This information was posted on DisneyWorld.com, but has since been removed.

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PHOTOS, VIDEO: New Grand Avenue Area Revealed at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Thanks to Hurricane Irma

WDWNT on September 17, 2017

With Hurricane Irma approaching, construction crews at Disney’s Hollywood Studios were forced to remove the tarps covering the fences surrounding the new Grand Avenue area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, giving is a clear look inside of the area for the first time. So, let’s take a tour of this “new land” for Disney’s Hollywood Studios…

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The patio of the Baseline Tap House looks rather pleasant.

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Lights are already strung overhead.

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Signage is already up outside, providing a look at the Baseline Tap House logo.

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As you can see, the area looks like ti will be opening fairly soon anyway, so you won’t have to wait much longer to get a look inside.

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Lots of pavement, which will be necessary to accommodate crowds flowing into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

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A large gate is being erected. This will likely be used in some fashion to control the line there will be just to enter Galaxy’s Edge.

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An area with brick accents awaits some lamps to be installed.

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A look straight down the street towards Star Wars Land.

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Grand Avenue abruptly ends at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater.

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A painted billboard is being created next to the Baseline Tap House.

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The windows on the lower level of Grand Avenue are finished, but boarded up for the storm.

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A closer look at the large gate towards the Muppets area.

Grand Avenue and the Baseline Tap House open this Fall at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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HURRICANE UPDATE: Night of Joy and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Cancelled for This Weekend

WDWNT on September 17, 2017

In addition to the previous news we brought you yesterday regarding Blizzard Beach and the Aerophile balloon, Disney has now cancelled the Night of Joy event for Saturday, September 9th and the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party for Sunday, September 10th at the Magic Kingdom.

Stay tuned to WDWNT for more updates as we receive them.

 

UPDATE: Disney is providing the following information for ticket holders:

Guests with tickets for Saturday’s Night of Joy Event are welcome to attend tonight’s event instead by exchanging their ticket at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Box Office starting at 4:00pm Friday. Requests for a full refund will be honored by calling Ticket Services at 407-566-4985, Option 5.

Guests are with tickets for Sunday’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tickets have the following options:
• Ticket to attend another Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
• Ticket to attend an upcoming Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
• 1 Day Magic Your Way Ticket with Park Hopper Option, to be used within the next two years.
• Receive a full refund for the event ticket.

Call 407-939-7818 or email Ticket.Inquiries@DisneyWorld.com to process your choice.

 

UPDATE: Disney World Closing Fort Wilderness & More, Cancelling More Special Events Ahead of Hurricane Irma

WDWNT on September 17, 2017

Disney has cancelled and scheduled more closings for several offerings this weekend in anticipation of Hurricane Irma:

  • Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground will close beginning Saturday afternoon 9/9 at 2PM.
  • Performances of Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue and Mickey’s Backyard BBQ have been cancelled for Saturday 9/9, Sunday, 9/10, and Monday 9/11.
  • The Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has been cancelled for Saturday evening, 9/9.
  • Highway in the Sky Dine Around is cancelled for Saturday evening, 9/9.
  • Disney’s Vero Beach Resort will close Friday 9/8 at 2PM.
  • Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort will close on Saturday 9/9 at 10AM.

These closures and cancellations are in addition to the special events cancellations and water park closings announced earlier.

Stay tuned to WDWNT.com for continued updates.

BREAKING UPDATE: Walt Disney World Will Close for Two Days for Hurricane Irma

WDWNT on September 17, 2017

Due to the projected track of Hurricane Irma directly through central Florida, Walt Disney World has announced that all theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs will be closed on Sunday, September 10 and Monday, September 11.

Disney has also announced early closure times for Saturday, September 9. Magic Kingdom closes at 9pm, Epcot at 9pm, Hollywood Studios at 7pm, Animal Kingdom at 7pm, and Disney Springs at 9pm.

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Almost all of the projected tracks of Hurricane Irma include Central Florida!

More details on this breaking news to come, stay tuned!

 

 

VIDEO: See How Epcot at Walt Disney World Is Getting Prepared for Hurricane Irma

WDWNT on September 17, 2017

Yesterday, we took a trip to Epcot to enjoy a lightly-attended day at the Food and Wine Festival 2017, and while we were there, we found that the park was already well-underway into preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Irma. The following video shows all the changes the park had made up until yesterday to get ready for the storm. Enjoy:

PHOTOS: Disney Distributing Safety and Information Pamphlets to Resort Guests Prior to Hurricane Irma

WDWNT on September 17, 2017

Disney World is distributing important “Resort Impacts” pamphlets to all guests staying at their resort hotels during Hurricane Irma.

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The first paper lists the park and Disney Springs closure information for today, Saturday, September 9th, as well as the information on the closures for the next two days. There is then some helpful information on food and provisions. We have been advised that all resort restaurants will likely only be serving “limited boxed lunch menus” starting Sunday, even if they usually offer table service dining.

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The other pamphlet repeats most of the information from the first.

Stay tuned to WDWNT.com for additional updates.