Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to keep up with the Disney news before you head on your next vacation? Well, you’ve come to the right place. From hotel discounts to new transportation and the latest theme park updates, we’re covering everything you’ve got to know this week.
By the way, we share daily Disney updates on TikTok and recaps on our website, so check them out here if you haven’t already! For now, keep reading for this week’s roundup of Disney news.
Heading to Disney World? Let Mears Connect You
Disney’s Magical Express has come to an end (we’re still not over this), and now, Walt Disney World vacationers have a new shuttle service they can book for their upcoming trips. Mears Connect — run by Mears, the company that partnered with Disney to operate the Magical Express — has officially begun providing Orlando airport transportation for guests staying at Disney-owned and Disney-area hotels. Though the airport shuttle is no longer complimentary (it’ll cost you $32 per adult, round-trip), it is still a convenient way to get to and from your Disney Resort.
Click here for more information.
Merlin’s Marvelous Miscellany Shop Coming to Disneyland
Last year, Disneyland opened an all-new holiday shop on Main Street, U.S.A.: Plaza Point. But what happened to the old Christmas shop in Fantasyland?
Well, per a Disney news report from MiceChat, the old Christmas shop in Fantasyland — located on the right after you wall through Sleeping Beauty Castle — has gained a new detail. The phrase “higitus figitus migitus mum prestidigitonium” from “The Sword in the Stone” has been painted on the beam outside the shop, which will soon be transformed into a new store called Merlin’s Marvelous Miscellany. We’re excited for this little corner of Fantasyland to be transformed into something new (and after watching his performance in the Magic Happens parade, who doesn’t love Merlin?!). We don’t know who at Disneyland is deciding to add even more “Sword in the Stone” themes to the park, but we’re not mad about it.
Save Big on Your Spring (or Summer) Disney World Trip
And now for some Disney news for upcoming Florida travelers. You can save up to $500 on a five-night stay at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels for trips on most nights between March 6th and July 7th. Or, if you’re an Annual Passholder, you can save up to 20% on rooms this summer at select hotels for stays most nights from March 11th through July 7th. These are some pretty amazing deals, so be sure to visit the Disney World website for all the booking details.
Say Cheese! Remy’s Goes Standby
Okay, that was a little cheesy, but what we’re about to tell you is pretty gouda. Disney announced this week that Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT will be doing away with the virtual queue in favor of a standby line and a Lightning Lane option. This means that, as of January 10th, there won’t be any attractions at Walt Disney World using the virtual queue system. So far, this seems to be going over well with guests, but we’ll see what happens with more new attractions open at the theme parks!
Click here for a full rundown of this EPCOT update.
D23 Expo 2022 Tickets on Sale Soon
Finally, we have a reminder for the ultimate Disney fans. Tickets for the 2022 D23 Expo in Anaheim go on sale very soon. Here’s what you need to know before you buy.
The next D23 Expo — dubbed “the largest Disney fan event in the world” — will take place September 9th through 11th at the Anaheim Convention Center, just a short walk from Disneyland Resort. If you’re a D23 Member, you will get a slight discount on tickets, which go on sale in just a couple of weeks on January 20th (prices haven’t yet been announced, but a three-day ticket for the 2019 Expo cost $219 for D23 Gold Members and $249 for the general public). Guests attending D23 Expo can also get discounted rates on hotel stays in Anaheim. To purchase D23 Expo 2022 tickets, click here to bookmark this page so you’re ready to buy ASAP — they will likely sell out, and trust us, this event is definitely a Disney bucket list item!
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