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Earlier today, Wednesday, October 19, Walt Disney World Resort finally announced that Fantastic! was returning to Disney's Hollywood Studio on November 3rd. As the date was revealed, it was no surprise that Disney World Annual Passholders rushed to make Disney Park Pass reservations for Hollywood Studios for that day. The result is that, Hollywood Studios park passes are no longer available for Annual Passholders on November 3rd. Of course, Passholders could always park hop over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to catch the long awaited return performance of Fantasmic, unless Disney decides to restrict park hopping for the 3rd of November...

Ready, set, runDisney! It's time to lace up up running shoes and get into training for the upcoming runDisney races coming to Walt Disney World. runDisney have today, Wednesday October 19, released the dates for their 2023-24 events at Walt Disney World. The 2023 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend will be held November 2-5, 2023. The event coincides with the 2023 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend 2024 is scheduled for January 3-7, 2024. Races during the weekend typically include a 10K, 5K, Marathon, and Half Marathon. February 22-25, 2024 will have running royalty during Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend. In 2023, in addition to a Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K run, there will also be a Princess Yoga session in the Magic Kingdom. Finally, runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend is set for April 18-21, 2024. The theme for this event changes annually. 2023’s event features a Pixar theme, and registration is still open for the Disney Pixar Toy Story 10 Miler.

Get ready for the fright of your life this weekend as Spooky Empire takes over the Orange County Convention Center on International Drive. Spooky Empire is Florida's premier horror convention, and delivers the best sights, sounds and screams to Halloween lovers right here in Orlando, with fans attending from all over the world. October’s event, taking place on the weekend of October 21st - 23rd, is bigger and more monstrous than before. Meet and mingle with your favorite horror movie and TV stars, buy any collectible you can imagine, see new and up and coming films as well as your old favorites, take part in one of the largest Zombie Walks ever, get tattooed by some of the best artists from around the world, and of course party ‘til your heart’s content at this non-stop weekend of horrors with plenty to satiate even the most diehard aficionados of the spooky season! Enjoy celebrity guests offering Q&A's, forums, music, meet and greet opportunities, and autographs. The exhibition hall is jam-packed with countless booths of over 200 vendors from across the country offering art, music, home decor, costumes, and more. Plus enjoy costume contests, a tattoo festival featuring over 50 artists, live entertainment and music, and so much more! It’s a weekend of non-stop horrors. The con features marquee guests Christina Ricci and Kyle MacLachlan. Ricci’s role as Wednesday Addams in the Addams Family films make her a natural fit for Spooky. Meanwhile, Kyle MacLachlan’s iconic portrayal of Agent Dale Cooper in Twin Peakswill make his signing table a high-traffic destination. MacLachlan won’t be the lone Peaks resident on hand; he’s joined by Sherilyn Fenn, Ray Wise, Madchen Amick, Sheryl Lee and quite a few more. Other notables include WWE wrestler Shotzi, Lori Petty from Tank Girl and Danny Lloyd from The Shining. For the true cult dwellers, Ken Feree from Dawn of the Dead and (goddamn!) the one and only “Bub” from Day of the Dead, Sherman Howard, will be on hand too. Plus vendors, live music, panels and a haunted-houseful of cosplay. Get all the details about Spooky Empire here.

SeaWorld Orlando is transitioning from mainly a marine park and aquarium into a roller coaster park. In the future the dolphin, sea lion, and orca shows will be a thing of the past, their massive stadiums replaced with the latest thrill rides. Earlier this year, SeaWorld Orlando began marketing itself as the Coaster Capital of Orlando, with a list of 6 coasters that includes the kiddie coaster, Super Grover's Box Car Derby. Now with the announcement that Pipeline, a brand new Surf Coaster will open within the park in the spring of 2023, SeaWorld Orlando is forging ahead with its plan for coaster domination here in Orlando. However once Pipeline - The Surf Coaster opens, it will still leave the Orlando park 3 coasters short of its sister park, Busch Gardens, only a day trip away in Tampa, which currently has 10 coasters including the impressive Iron Gwazi, hence why SeaWorld can only claim to be the coaster capital of Orlando, and not Florida! But, even in Orlando its not top of the list, with Universal Orlando boasting 10 coasters between Islands Of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, and that's not including the under construction coasters in Universal's new Epic Universe theme park due to open in 2025. Epic Universe will include at least 4 coaster when it opens including Donkey Kong Mine Cart, How to Train Your Dragon, a duelling Coaster with no known theme yet, and a rumoured Universal Monsters Coaster believed to be themed to The Wolfman. Oh and how many coaster does Walt Disney World have? Well, they are already in seventh heaven with 7 coasters already within its parks, although when Disney does eventually decide to open the under construction Tron, it will take Disney's coaster count to 8, leaving the self proclaimed Coaster Capital of Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando with the least amount of coasters in Orlando! Here is the 6 existing coasters you can find within SeaWorld Orlando, plus the under construction Pipeline - The Surf Coaster. Pipeline - Launching 2023 Ice Breaker Mako Kraken Manta Journey to Atlantis Super Grover's Box Car Derby Come on SeaWorld Orlando, hurry up and build even more coasters, we're rooting for you!

Disney has released a new video today, including a little sneak peek at Roundup Rodeo BBQ coming soon to Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios. In the video there is a segment with Bobby Rivera Otero, Chef de Cuisine Concept Development, where he shows some of the food and table-setting concepts that we can expect when the restaurant opens later this year including bone china plates that are designed to look like a disposable paper plates!

Walt Disney World had already shared the news that a brand new and exclusive Mickey Mouse Popcorn Bucket for Annual Passholders will be released on October 25th. Well now, we’ve got the all important details for everyone who will be desperately trying to grab one of these new collectibles! Thankfully the exclusive bucket will be available in at least one location in each of the theme parks, PLUS Disney Springs Hopefully this will speed the inevitable long lines out throughout the resort! Passholders will be able to visit the following locations to purchase this exclusive popcorn bucket: City Hall Popcorn Cart at Magic Kingdom Popcorn Cart near the Creations Shop at EPCOT Feeding Ground Popcorn Cart at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Hollywood Popcorn cart at Disney’s Hollywood Studios West Side Cart at Disney Springs Walt Disney World have pointed out that their will be limited availability, so you’ll want to get in the line for this early! To purchase one of these new popcorn buckets, Passholders will be required to present a valid Annual Pass as well as a valid photo ID.

Together with the announcement that Fantasmic will return November 3, 2022 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World has teased details about the return of the popular Fantasmic dining packages also! Here’s the little piece of info announced by Disney: And don’t miss out! Beginning Oct. 26, “Fantasmic!” dining packages for select restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be available for performances Nov. 30 and beyond. Previously The Fantasmic! Dinner Package Package included a meal reservation plus a Fantasmic! reserved seating pass. The Fantasmic Package was offered at 3 restaurants: Brown Derby, Mama Melrose, and Hollywood & Vine.

Today Walt Disney World announced that the nighttime spectacular Fantastic! is returning to Hollywood Studios on November 3, 2022, It was also teased by Disney that the Fantasmic! dining packages would be returning also, but it looks like we are going to have to wait a little longer, with a return date for the dining packages on November 30. Walt Disney World have now released the details, including the list of venues included in the dining package and prices. Each package includes an entrée with either an appetizer or dessert at full-service restaurants (or a full buffet for buffet restaurants). A non-alcoholic beverage is also included. Dining packages for Fantasmic! will be available at the following venues: 50s Prime Time Cafe – Dinner $51 for adults, $22 for kids Classic American comfort food, ’50s kitsch and a good old-fashioned family gathering take you back to a bygone era. Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano –– Dinner $54 for adults, $22 for kids Mangia in the backlot of Disney’s Hollywood Studios at this casual but colorful Italian eatery with a California twist. Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant – Dinner $49 for adults, $22 for kids Do dinner and a show ’50s-style at our drive-in “theater,” featuring all-American cuisine and sci-fi movie clips. The Hollywood Brown Derby – Dinner $73 for adults, $29 for kids Step into the Golden Age of Hollywood at this warm, wood-paneled restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine. Hollywood & Vine Lunch & Dinner – Breakfast: $54 for adults, $36 for kids Lunch & Dinner: $71 for adults, $47 for kids Celebrate breakfast with Disney Junior Stars or enjoy lunch and dinner with Minnie and friends at seasonal dining parties.

Several character meet and greet opportunities will be suspended soon at Walt Disney World! The cutback comes at a time when the resort is currently struggling to find enough Cast Members to staff various positions throughout the resort. Ince re-opening after the enforced closure due to the COVID outbreak, Walt Disney World has been constantly holding auditions for character performers, but it appears the resort still cannot fill all positions, and some cutbacks are coming soon. The cutbacks reported by wdwmagic are due to begin on October 23rd, 2022 at the following locations: Donald & Daisy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Max & Goofy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Minnie at Magic Kingdom Minnie at International Gateway in EPCOT PLUS, several character meet and greets that were previously announced to return soon will not be returning anytime soon. Character meets at Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Magic Kingdom, Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios, and Ariel at Magic Kingdom are among those affected.

Walt Disney World has just announced that Fantastic! will return to Hollywood Studios on November 3, 2022, and when the show resumes it will be a new and improved version! Firstly, the nighttime spectacular will be ever so slightly longer than when it last ran in 2020, previously a 26 minute show, Fantasmic will be 29 minutes when it returns in a only a few weeks. Plus, Walt Disney World offered the following details about the show’s return, including some new scenes: Forces of good and evil will once again battle it out in Mickey’s dream as the long-awaited return of Fantasmic! debuts Nov. 3 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. The legendary nighttime spectacular invites guests into Mickey’s imagination for a larger-than-life show painted on a grand canvas of dancing water overflowing with silly and suspenseful surprises. The elaborate 29-minute nighttime spectacular takes place nightly – a kaleidoscope of entertainment featuring thrilling stunts, dazzling special effects and a rousing score based on classic Disney animated films. Fantasmic! is just one of many new and returning live-entertainment experiences guests can enjoy during the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration. “Fantasmic! is a show that will take you on a journey to see so many characters, so many villains and heroes,” says Melanie Gagne, entertainment proprietor for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. “It’s one of our biggest shows, and many guests will plan their day or their entire vacation around Fantasmic! The return of Fantasmic! will include the debut of an all-new sequence that will bring to life heroic moments from Disney stories such as “Moana,” “Mulan,” “Aladdin,” “Pocahontas,” and “Frozen 2.” “In bringing Fantasmic! back, we have a brand-new scene that we’re calling our Disney Heroes scene,” says Matthew Hamel, show director for Disney Live Entertainment. “We get to see some new characters introduced to Fantasmic!, and we get to show their stories in a new, unique way utilizing a combination of projections, lasers and new lighting.” “Through this entire sequence, we go on a journey with our heroes. We see them faced with a decision, and how hard that can be for them, then watch as they find that strength within themselves to push through in a truly spectacular way,” said Hamel. The new heroes sequence features a high-energy Aladdin chase with stunts never before seen on the “Fantasmic!” stage, a powerful scene with Elsa set to the song “Show Yourself” that is sure to thaw the most frozen of hearts, and stirring moments with Pocahontas, Moana and Mulan. Fun fact: To help choreograph the authentic Chinese martial arts you’ll see in Mulan’s scene, the creative team brought in Mimi Chan – the original muse and model animators used when bringing the character of Mulan to life for the 1998 animated film. Eye-Catching Visuals, Immersive Storytelling The show combines live performers with stunning special effects, colorful pyrotechnic explosions, animation and dancing waters synchronized to the melodies of timeless Disney classics. “It was extremely exciting to take advantage of technological enhancements that didn’t originally exist when the show opened in 1998,” says Katrina Mena Rick, broadcast creative producer for Disney Live Entertainment. “So, we [worked] with other disciplines such as special effects, lighting, lasers and music to ensure that our visual content was as exactly seamless and as beautiful as it could be.” A Journey Beyond Guests’ Wildest Imaginations Audiences are transported into a fantastical adventure with Mickey Mouse where his magic creates dancing waters, shooting comets, animated fountains, swirling stars, balls of fire and other amazing wonders. When Disney villains intrude on Mickey’s fantasy and turn his dreams into nightmares, he uses the powers of good to triumph over evil. “Bringing back Fantasmic! here at Disney’s Hollywood Studios means so much to our guests,” says Mena Rick. “It was a task to not only preserve the legacy of the show but also introduce new characters for the next generation.” Fantasmic! Fast Facts: Fantasmic! originally opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on October 15, 1998. The show features animation and characters from more than 25 films. The moat surrounding the Fantasmic! island stage contains 1.9 million gallons of water. Maleficent, in dragon form, is the final villain that Mickey Mouse battles, and she stands 40-feet tall. In addition to Maleficent, 10 other villains appear in the show. In the finale, Mickey Mouse and 35 other characters appear on a steamboat inspired by the one seen in “Steamboat Willie,” Located off Sunset Boulevard, the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater seats 6,900 guests with additional standing room for about 3,000 guests. Tips for Guests Fantasmic! is performed nightly at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests can enter the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater up to 90 minutes prior to the show’s start. Since it is an outdoor venue, the show is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. Showtimes are subject to change. Beginning October 26, dining packages for select restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be available for dining beginning November 30, 2022.

Walt Disney World has finally announced a return date for Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! So, will the powers of Mickey’s incredible imagination still be strong enough, and bright enough, to withstand the evil forces that invade Mickey’s dreams? We are about to find out on November 3, 2022. Back and better than ever, the larger-than-life, open-air nighttime musical will boast the live performers, stunning effects, rousing music and dazzling pyrotechnics you know and love – complete with a brand-new show sequence! Fantasmic will return with an all new hero sequence featuring a high-energy Aladdin chase with stunts never before seen on the “Fantasmic!” stage, a powerful scene with Elsa set to the song “Show Yourself” that is sure to thaw the most frozen of hearts, and stirring moments with Pocahontas, Moana and Mulan. “We know this show means so much to people, and we’ve kept that in mind every step of this journey.” says Disney Live Entertainment Producer, Laurice Marier. “Even beyond the new scene, we’ve taken this time to upgrade the lasers, the lighting, the sound, all to bring this show back even more beautiful than it’s ever been. We’re all really just so excited for guests to see it.” Fun fact: To help choreograph the authentic Chinese martial arts you’ll see in Mulan’s scene, the creative team brought in Mimi Chan – the original muse and model animators used when bringing the character of Mulan to life for the 1998 animated film. Rehearsals for the Hollywood Studios nighttime spectacular have been underway since late August, while testing of the fountains for the show began in September. We can't wait to see the new and improved Fantasmic!

Remember that we were promised a big shiny new and exciting pavilion at EPCOT back in 2019! Well Disney's Play Pavilion should have been open right now, it was actually set to open last year, as a new headliner attraction celebrating Walt Disney Word's 50th Anniversary in 2022. Yet the Pavilion still sits empty as the 50th celebrations come to an end, although lets not mention Tron, another headliner for the 50th that's still under construction! At the announcement for the Play pavilion, Imagineer Zach Riddley said “This innovative, new pavilion is beyond anything we’ve ever created and is completely unique to EPCOT. Built on the power of play, it introduces an immersive and interactive ‘city’ where you can explore, create, and interact with some of your favorite Disney characters. This is an experience worthy of our bold vision for EPCOT – and another signature element of our transformation.” Sounds awesome, right? So where is this wonderful new attraction... Sounds good, too good to be true it seems, Play Pavilion has since been quietly paused, scaled back, cancelled, or well... nobody seems to actually know, we don't even think that Disney know either, perhaps they have just forgotten about it, well it is hard to see that bright gold pavilion lurking in the corner of EPCOT hidden behind the massive Guardians Of The Galaxy building, housing a brand new shiny ride: that at least Disney delivered on that project! Only weeks ago it seemed all was not lost, as the pavilion was actually listed on the shiny new EPCOT40 commemorative map given out to celebrate EPCOT's 40th Anniversary on October 1! A close inspection at the World Discovery area of the park map revealed a tiny little dot above the former Wonders of Life Pavilion proclaims “Future Home of PLAY!,” But now as it looked like Play might actually still be happening, it seems Disney have killed the project forever! According to WDNT sources inside the compan now indicate that executives have “officially” canceled the project during a recent retreat to Walt Disney World. Reportedly, it was the the main man himself, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, Josh D’Amaro, and king of the selfie, who pulled the trigger and killed the project. This seems crazy considering that a lot of the interior had already been installed and completed. Yes, we had already heard that the project had been considerably slimmed down with those originally working on the PLAY! Pavilion having been moved to other projects, but still!! Imagine giving up on a half-built new attraction, what's going on at Disney right now, seriously! Who knows why D'Amaro had killed the project, but honestly nothing surprises us right now with the current Disney management.