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A limited edition MagicBand will be available only at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom, sold at parties between September 1st and October 31st, while supplies last. It will be sold at the Frontierland Trading Post and the Emporium for $29.95 each. This will be limited to 5,000 pieces. Party admission is required . No “link it later” option will be offered, but regular merchandise discounts can be applied. These will also likely have a special noise and light-color when they are used at park and attraction entrances, but this has not been confirmed. I'm certain that we can expect to see a limited edition MagicBand for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party later this year as well. Of course, this follows a line of Star Wars, Frozen, and Haunted Mansion-themed MagicBands. I will certainly be adding this to my collection.

From the Disney Parks Blog - Today, we have news about some updates coming to World Showcase at Epcot. One of the best parts of the World Showcase experience is feeling fully immersed in the culture of each country, and the live entertainment presented in the international pavilions plays a large role in creating that atmosphere. Beginning this fall, we will be refreshing the atmosphere entertainment around World Showcase with the addition of new acts and enhancements to some existing performances. New experiences debuting over the next several months will contribute to the rich mix of entertainment at Epcot, and provide fresh experiences for our guests. In the near future, you can look forward to enjoying a traditional Berber music and dance troupe in Morocco, a corps of dynamic flag-waving performers in Italy, a thrilling lumberjack-inspired show in Canada, a Celtic folk music ensemble at the United Kingdom, and more. As we embark on this enhancement of World Showcas

Starting November 7 and through the merriest weeks that follow, guests of Walt Disney World Resort and Disney Cruise Line will find themselves in a wintry wonderland that blends yuletide traditions and holiday cheer. Highlights of the merry celebrations include: Magic Kingdom Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: Beginning at 7 p.m. (after regular park hours) from Nov. 7 – Dec. 19, guests with special event tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party can enjoy all the festive splendor with lively stage shows featuring Disney characters in their holiday best, a unique parade for the season and favorite holiday traditions including complimentary cookies and hot cocoa, and snow flurries on Main Street, U.S.A. The fun continues with a holiday “Celebrate the Magic” castle projection show and Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season nighttime fireworks spectacular. Tickets for this event may be purchased online at WaltDisneyWorld.com or by calling 407/WDW- 767

Entrance 4 at Downtown Disney Closing On Thursday, August 28th, 2014, Entrance #4 at Downtown Disney will permanently close. This will allow work on the new West Side garage to progress. Entrance #4 is located between DisneyQuest and Cirque du Soleil. With the closure, that leaves only two (2) entrances available into Downtown Disney. Entrance #5, that is across from Typhoon Lagoon and Entrance #2, opposite the Hess Station. Entrance #1, opposite the Disney Casting Center is an EXIT only. If you have reservations at Cirque du Soleil , any of the restaurants or a specific movie time you are trying to make, please plan accordingly as traffic will be very heavy. Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon Refurbishment Dates Typhoon Lagoon will be closed from October 26, 2014 - January 3, 2015 for its annual refurbishment. Blizzard Beach will be closed from January 4 - March 14, 2015 for its annual refurbishment.

They say every dog has its day, and that day is today — National Dog Day. Here are 10 ways guests can celebrate their love for their four-legged friend at Walt Disney World Resort. 1. Pets can romp and play while you’re away at Best Friends Pet Care at Walt Disney World Resort. Furry friend deserve the very best, and that’s what they’ll get as guests at this luxury boarding facility. VIP packages include a private room and relief area, a bedtime story, flat panel TV for movie watching, and much more for purchase. For more information about Best Friends Pet Care, call (877) 4 WDW-PETS. 2. If you’re searching for a pet-friendly resort, then you’ve come to the right place. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground offers site-specific campsite loops that welcome pets. Premium, full hook-up and preferred campsites allow furry friends to join in on a Walt Disney World vacation. 3. Waggin’ Trails Dog Park at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground is the pl

A rockin’ after-hours street party and a premium food-and-beverage package for Walt Disney World Resort guests will debut during the 19th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival presented by Chase Sept. 19-Nov. 10, 2014. Celebrated for its inspired flavors, high-energy Eat to the Beat concerts and premium dining events, the Festival kicks off a week early and runs 53 days until Nov. 10 – seven days longer than last year’s event – and features more than 270 chefs, including Disney chefs and culinary stars from across the country. The Scoop on What’s Cookin’: The new Epcot Food & Wine Festival -Late Nights LIVE! street party will span the World Showcase promenade from the United Kingdom pavilion to World Showcase Plaza from 9:45 p.m. to 1 a.m. each Tuesday and Thursday. It includes six tastes (food and beverages) from select marketplaces, live music and entertainment for $79 plus tax. (Admission to Epcot is not required after 9 p.m. for guests who have purcha

When Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue launched on June 30, 1974, the high-energy dinner show at Pioneer Hall at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground was created in the heyday of dinner theaters for Walt Disney World guests with a summer college intern cast. The foot-stompin’, hand-clappin’ musical starred six young actors and offered endless buckets of fried chicken and ribs. “Hoop-Dee-Doo was upbeat, and guests came for the corny jokes, good food and lots of fun,” said Forrest Bahruth, show director, Disney Parks & Resorts Creative Entertainment and the original choreographer for the dinner show. “Forty years later, the heart is still in it, the energy is still there.” As that first summer ended and guests were clamoring for more, Walt Disney World Entertainment already was auditioning a full-time cast, and Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue opened as a permanent show on Sept. 5, 1974. Today, it’s one of the country’s longest-running dinner shows and has presented more

The third annual "Great Irish Hooley" is returning to Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant at Downtown Disney  over Labor Day Weekend, promising days of Irish tomfoolery! The “hooley” is a traditional Irish social festival and Raglan Road will celebrate theirs with live music, traditional dancing, and delicious Irish fare. Live music begins at 4 p.m. Friday, August 29 and Saturday, August 30 through Monday, September 1, continuing each day and night.  This year’s Hooley band lineup includes the following entertainment groups for your enjoyment: Scythian - A headliner on the Celtic festival circuit and equally at home in rock venues – the band will release a fan-funded album, “Jump at the Sun,” this month. The Raglan Rebels - Ireland’s best up-and-coming young band with traditional and modern songs and ballads. Drops of Green - An exciting new ballad group from the heart of Ireland. The Brayzen Heads - A popular duo on guitar and banjo playing Raglan Road r

This year, the Disney villains are stepping out like never before during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, featuring new and enhanced experiences. The popular “Villains Mix & Mingle – Live on Stage” returns to the Castle Forecourt Stage several times each night, with an unforgettable performance by beloved baddies from Disney films. Throughout the evening, guests interested in meeting their favorite Disney villains will now encounter them at locations around the park. Look for Jafar in Adventureland and the Queen of Hearts near Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland, while Lotso lurks near Buzz Lightyear in Tomorrowland. At Princess Fairytale Hall, guests can choose between visiting Anna and Elsa or dropping in to see Snow White and Aurora, but be warned! The Queen and Maleficent are crashing this princess party, joining Snow White and Aurora for the night. Another all-new feature of this year’s event, Club Villain, takes over The Diamond Horseshoe in Liberty Square wit

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will debut Villains’ Sinister Soiree: A Wicked Takeover of Cinderella Castle. For an additional $99 per person, in addition to the ticket for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, you will get to experience a character hosted dessert party inside Cinderella's Royal Table, along with preferred viewing for Boo-to-You parade and HalloWishes fireworks. To make a reservation, please call (407) 939-5262 Join Lady Tremaine and her villainous friends at the witching hour for the season’s most decadent dessert party. Taking place during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party, it’s the Villains’ Sinister Soiree: A Wicked Takeover of Cinderella Castle! Set within the majestic halls of Cinderella’s Royal Table, don’t miss your chance to meet a menagerie of malevolent special guests—all while you indulge in devilish desserts and wicked entertainment. As the evening continues, follow fellow Guests to the dining room, where th

The “Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It!” Street Party has been a guest favorite at Magic Kingdom Park since its debut in 2009. This fall, the Magic Kingdom is kicking things up a notch with new music, new characters, and a new way for you to be part of the show! They're even giving this party procession a new name – “Move it! Shake It! Dance & Play It!” Street Party. The fun begins on Main Street, U.S.A., as a high-energy party anthem heralds the arrival of favorite Disney characters – including new additions Stitch and Phineas & Ferb – who parade toward Cinderella Castle as the emcee, stilt walkers, and the rest of our party peeps encourage everyone to join in. Things heat up in the Central Plaza when hosts Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy appear atop giant gift boxes, leading everyone in a medley of remixed classic party songs. Once you’ve moved it, shaken it, and danced it, it’s time to help decide what comes next, as you vote for one o

In This Edition: Magic Kingdom: Night of Joy with award-winning headliners; Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party brings 26 nights of happy haunts Epcot: Delicious eats, rockin’ beats and splendid sips await guests during 19th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Frozen Fun Continues run Disney: Thrills, chills and a nighttime run fill The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend Disney Cruise Line : Spooky cruises set sail this fall Family Friendly Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Begins Sept. 1 at Magic Kingdom Halloween’s happiest haunts will reappear for 26 “spook-tacular” nights of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. From Sept. 1 through Oct. 31, the after-hours special ticket event will immerse guests in the Halloween spirit. The bewitching “Happy HalloWishes” fireworks spectacular will illuminate the sky in bursts of orange and green fireworks. In “Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade,” the

The Official Disney Parks Blog has just posted a new video that will give us a quick glimpse into the design and the backstory of the upcoming Disney Springs. WDI's Theron Skees showcases some new virtual renderings and shows us what we can look forward to in 2015-2016. No details have been revealed as to the new shopping and dining locations that are coming to Disney Springs over the next two years. Stay tuned!

'Villains Unleashed' is this Saturday (8/23) and we have the schedule for the event. Tickets are still available for the event and can be purchased by CLICKING HERE . The schedule is subject to change, so be sure to check with a times guide at the park on the day for any last minute changes. Event Hours Villains Unleashed begins at 8pm, with event tickets allowing entry from 5pm. If you are already in the park, you can obtain event passes at the Epic Theater and Soundstage One. Parking From 3pm, the secondary entrance to Disney's Hollywood Studios will be closed. After 3pm the only entry will be via the main entrance on World Drive. Entertainment Hades Hangout - Sorcerer Hat Stage 8pm to 1am Event Start - Sorcerer Hat Stage 8pm Oogie Boogie's Freaky Funhouse Show - Theater of the Stars 8:30pm, 9:30pm, 10:30pm and 11:30pm "Guardians of the Galaxy" Awesome Mix Tape Dance Party - Stage 5 Animation Courtyard 8pm to 12:45am Fantasmic

Disney will begin allowing the purchase of MagicBands without being linked to an existing ticket from tomorrow. Until now, MagicBands had to be linked to a My Disney Experience account with valid ticket media at the time of purchase. From August 19, MagicBands can be purchased as a stand-alone item at the parks, Downtown Disney, Disney's Art of Animation Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Pop Century Resort and Disney's Port Orleans Resort. It is expected that more locations will be added later. Only regular solid color bands will be included within the new policy. The MagicBands with a printed image will continue to be required to be linked to ticket media at the time of purchase. The change to purchasing MagicBands will now make it possible for guests to buy MagicBands to be given as gifts, or for future trips that have not yet been booked. Before you go out and buy huge stockpiles of MagicBands, be aware there is a purchase limit of 5 p

There’s a change in the air and it’s just not back to school, cooler temperatures and changing leaves. It is the dawn of a new era in college football, and the chance for college cheer and dance teams to cheer their Disney Side to support their team and win a $100,000 grant for their spirit program and a group trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. This fall, Disney is teaming up with ESPN and the ABC family of networks to cheer on the new College Football Playoff system and what is sure to be the most memorable college football season yet. Every team starts the season “in,” but only four teams will stay “in” for the inaugural College Football Playoff in January on ESPN. The competition is not just limited to the player on the field. ESPN, in partnership with Disney Parks and Varsity Spirit, is excited to invite college cheer and dance teams to create a 30-second Disney Parks-inspired routine set to four music remix choices of our favorite Disney Parks attraction mu

As they follow the path that winds along the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom may get a glimpse of one of nature’s most endearing sights – a newborn male gorilla cuddling with his mother. Born Aug. 7 to mother Azizi and father Gino, the healthy infant has already become an integral member of his family group, which includes two other adult females, Kashata and Benga and a four-year-old female named Lilly. Members of the primate team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are closely watching mother and baby to ensure Azizi is adapting to her maternal duties, such as properly holding the baby and keeping up with his demanding nursing schedule. Most gorilla mothers keep their offspring close for several months as the infants adjust to their environment. Gorillas are typically weaned between the ages of four and five, but begin to eat solids between two to six months. “We’re pleased with the way Azizi is bonding with her baby and meeting his needs,” sai

What could possibly be better than enjoying all there is to enjoy at the acclaimed Epcot International Food & Wine Festival? Enjoying it via the Ultimate Day VIP Tour! Begin the daylong festivities at the VIP Lounge hidden within the Festival Center at the Wonder’s Retreat. This special tour includes Champagne, a beverage tasting, six-course tapas-style lunch, wine, private backstage tours, time on some of the most popular Epcot attractions, food and beverage pairings with Disney chefs, VIP seating at the Eat to the Beat Concert Series, reserved seating for IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth fireworks spectacular and more. Whew! Sip, taste and enjoy as you travel World Showcase at Epcot. You won’t want to miss this extraordinary celebration of all things culinary, the grape and brew as your Disney VIP Guides accompany you throughout, highlighting special moments not everyone gets to experience. Occurring rain or shine Thursday and Sundays on select dates September th

Breaking now from Disney's Hollywood Studios - The American Idol Experience has moved up its closing date! The final show will take place on August 30, 2014. The attraction was scheduled to close down in January of 2015. No word on why this was moved up, so speculate away.