Disney Discussions Weekly Recap for the Week of 09/29/24
All the Disney happenings from the week of 09/29/24 including new 2025 Discounts, French Fries, and ‘The Emperor’s New Groove’ merch. And, of course, Muppets.
Catch up on the past week’s Disney news, including new 2025 Discounts, French Fries, and ‘The Emperor’s New Groove’ merch. And, of course, Muppets.
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This Week’s Disney News 📰
Weekly Muppets New Story 🐸:
🧪 Muppets Lab Photo Op Returns to The Odyssey at EPCOT - WDWNT
The Muppets Lab photo op is back at The Odyssey for the 2024 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival now with thematic stanchions. On August 29, 2024, a detailed photo op debuted at The Muppets Brew-Wing Lab in The Odyssey. However, less than 72 hours after becoming available to the public, the photo op was removed after reports of unsupervised children wrecking the props.
Walt Disney World News 🏰:
💰 Walt Disney World Unveils New Discounts for 2025 Vacations - Disney Parks Blog
You can plan your 2025 visit and 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.
💵 Florida Residents Save Up to 30 Percent on Disney Resort Rooms in Early 2025 - WDWMagic
💲 Walt Disney World Unveils Early 2025 Room Discounts for Passholders - WDWMAGIC
Up to 35% off: For stays most nights from February 23 to April 30, 2025, guests can save up to 35% on rooms at select Disney resorts,
Magic Kingdom & Animal Kingdom Hours Extended for October - WDWNT
Magic Kingdom
October 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, and 18
The park will now open at 8 a.m. on those dates, but it will close at 6 p.m. due to the separately ticketed event.
October 5, 7, 9, 12, 13, 16, and 19
The park will still open at 9 a.m. but close at 11 p.m.
Animal Kingdom
October 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, and 17
The park will now open at 8:00 a.m. but close at 6 p.m.
October 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, and 19
The park will now open at 8 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
October 11
The park will now open at 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
🏎️ Permits Filed for Disney Villains Show Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios - WDWNT
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy is scheduled to close on October 7, 2024, and this construction permit will be valid until September 27, 2025.
Part of the refurbishment at Everything Pop! at Disney’s Pop Century Resort is now complete - Disney Food Blog
🐘 Walt Disney World Moves Up Jungle Cruise Reopening Date Following Refurbishment - WDWMAGIC
Jungle Cruise is returning earlier than anticipated. Updated operational hours now show a reopening date of Wednesday, October 16, 2024—two days earlier than previously scheduled.
🍟 Seven New French Fry Dishes Rolling Out This Month at Walt Disney World - Disney Parks Blog
A-Maize-Ing Magic Munch Fries:
Description: French fries topped with sweet corn, chipotle mayonnaise, chili-lime-spiced cotija cheese, and popcorn
Locations:
Flame Tree BBQ at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Restaurantosaurus at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Street Corn Fries
Description: French fries topped with roasted corn relish, cotija cheese, and cilantro-lime crema
Locations:
Intermission Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
End Zone Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Riverside Mill Food Court at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
Everything Pop Shopping & Dining at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Buffalo Fries
Description: Ranch-seasoned french fries drizzled with buffalo-ranch sauce and blue cheese dressing
Locations:
ABC Commissary at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Backlot Express at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Rosie’s All-American Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Cuban Fries
Description: Seasoned french fries topped with mustard and Swiss cheese sauce, ham, and pickles
Locations:
Centertown Market at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
World Premiere Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
BBQ Fries
Description: Seasoned french fries topped with coleslaw, sweet BBQ sauce, and ketchup aïoli
Location:
Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue at EPCOT
Black Garlic, Truffle, and Parmesan Fries
Description: French fries topped with black garlic-truffle aïoli and parmesan cheese
Locations:
Columbia Harbour House at Magic Kingdom Park
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe at Magic Kingdom Park
Pinocchio Village Haus at Magic Kingdom Park
Connections Eatery at EPCOT
Strawberry Chocolate Fries
Description: Cinnamon-sugar-dusted french fries topped with chocolate ganache, strawberries, and honey cream cheese
Locations:
Mr. Kamal’s at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Primo Piatto at Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disneyland News:
💲 $50 Kids’ Disneyland Ticket is Back! Plus Savings on Hotel Stays - Disney Parks Blog4
⛲️ ‘World of Color – ONE’ to Return in Late October Following Refurbishment - WDWNT
The nighttime show was originally shut down on September 9, 2024, for refurbishment. It was scheduled to return to normal operation on October 23, 2024, but the refurbishment was extended.
According to the operating calendar on the Disneyland Resort website, the show will return with two performances on Friday, October 25, 2024, at 9 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.
‘The Emperor’s New Groove’ Angel and Devil Kronk Shoulder Plush Set Available at Disneyland - WDWNT
I usually wouldn't put new merch news in the newsletter, but Emperor’s New Groove is loved in our house, and anything related to it will be included
image from WDWNT.com
Disney Cruise News:
🚢 The Disney Treasure Will Be Christened in NYC - DCLFan
Disney Cruise Line announced that the Christening of its latest ship will take place November 19-20, 2024, in New York City on the Harbor at Pier 60.
Disney Entertainment News 🍿:
👑 Adele Lim Signs on as Director of Disney’s ‘The Princess Diaries 3’ - WDWNT
🤖 New Russo Bros. Movie is Based On ‘Disneyland Animatronics Revolting Against Their Creators’ - WDWNT
“The Electric State" is a coming-of-age road trip movie set in 1994, after a robot uprising. The story follows the aftermath of a battle between humanity and artificial intelligence. Millie Bobby Brown stars as Michelle, a young woman searching for her kidnapped brother, previously believed to be dead. Chris Pratt plays Keats, a veteran of the human-robot war who now works as a long-haul trucker with a smuggling side business, accompanied by a former enemy – a construction machine named Herman (voiced by Anthony Mackie).
Disney Discussions Recap:
🧚 Pixie Dust ✨
WDW Fun Fact:
Did you know that when Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World opened on October 1st, 1971, 53 years ago this week, it only had 12 rides? It now has 41!
Out of the 12 opening-day rides, 8 remain:
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel 🎠
The Walt Disney World Railroad 🛤️
Mad Tea Party 🫖
the Tomorrowland Speedway 🏎️
Dumbo the Flying Elephant 🐘
“it’s a small world” 🌎
Jungle Cruise 🦓
Haunted Mansion 👻
Magic Shot of the Week 📸 :
We all have those photos we take on a Disney vacation that we love. Every week, I’ll share one. They will be my photos, but I’d love for you to share yours so I can include them. Email me your Disney photo to photos@disneydiscussions.com, and it’ll go in a future weekly recap.
Disney Tip of the Week 🚠 :
If you enjoyed last week’s tip, you’ll love this week’s! In celebration of Disney’s Skyliner 5th anniversary, Disney gives some fun “free” things to do by riding the Skyliner.
Resort hop!
The unique gondola system travels to four resort hotels. You can travel between the Resorts, check out some free activities at each location, and eat at the restaurants.
Ride the Skyliner during the fireworks.
Time it just right, and you can view some of EPCOT’s fireworks from the gondolas.