Welcome to the latest edition of Ears the News
Brought to you by our friends at WDWMagic.com
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will debut an all-new firework spectacular this year, and Disney is giving us a first look at the show in a new video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=_vCzVKY5TWo
In “Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular,” Jack Skellington from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” serves as host and has come to tell a “not-so-scary” story about how anything can happen on Halloween night. His ghost dog, Zero, flies off carrying everyone along on a trick-or-treating adventure, where four friends – Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy – find themselves drawn into a mysterious haunted house.
Their journey takes them from one room of the house to another, encountering dancing skeletons, waltzing ghosts and a whole series of troublemaking Disney villains. The show will also include state-of-the-art projections and lasers, plus lighting and dazzling fireworks that will fill the sky above Magic Kingdom Park.
The show will be part of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party for a record 36 select nights, Aug. 16-Nov. 1 2019.
For fans of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, it appears that this year you can gain access to every single party night for a fixed price.
The new Party Pass will give access to each party night, including October 31 2019.
Pricing is $299 plus tax for ages 10 and above, and $284 plus tax for ages 3-9. It should soon be available for purchase at Guest Services or any ticket window, but not online. If you already have an event ticket, you can modify your ticket to a Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Pass at 407-939-4295 for information.
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com
The 2019 Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party exclusive Sorcery of the Magic Kingdom card is ‘The Phantasmal Fireworks’ Flash.’
The event-exclusive game card is inspired by the party’s brand-new fireworks show, “Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular.” You can get started with Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom at the Firehouse on Main Street U.S.A or visit any theme park Ticket Window.
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com
Bongo's at Disney Springs will have its final day of operation on August 18 2019.
The 550 seat restaurant owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan is located on the West Side at Disney Springs and opened in 1997. This is one of the longest serving restaurants at Disney Springs that has not been renovated since the transition from Downtown Disney to Disney Springs.
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com
Disney Springs has updated the designated smoking area locations effective August 12 2019.
The smoking area between UNIQLO and T-REX has now been removed. Remaining smoking areas are:
· Next to Disney's Wonderful World of Memories
· Next to Goofy's Candy Co.
· Near the Town Center bus stops
· Near Morimoto Asia
· Between Bongos and Jaleo
· Behind Cirque du Soleil
The NBA Experience at Disney Springs officially opened its doors to guests.
“NBA Experience lets everybody who loves the game, live it,” said Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “We’re excited to open the doors to a fun and unique experience for fans of all ages.”
Athletes and personalities from the world of NBA and WNBA were in attendance, including Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Grant Hill, along with NBA legend Dwyane Wade, Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez, Utah Jazz point guard Mike Conley, Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon, Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem and WNBA legend Swin Cash, now the vice president of basketball operations and team development for the New Orleans Pelicans.
“I want to thank Bob Iger and the Walt Disney Imagineering team for capturing the authentic NBA experience at this landmark destination at Disney Springs,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “Disney creates memorable experiences better than anyone, and we are thrilled to share the excitement of NBA basketball with fans and Walt Disney World guests from around the world.”
n collaboration with the NBA, Walt Disney Imagineering developed NBA Experience as an immersive, interactive venue. The high-energy environment offers 13 different basketball-related activities across 44,000 square feet and two floors.
A ticket to NBA Experience grants access to every activity, in any order guests choose, and they can return to stations throughout the day to improve performance or learn even more about the game.
Pricing is $34 for ages 10+, and $29 ages 3-9.
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com
The app-based restaurant ordering system, Mobile Order, is now available at more Walt Disney World Resort hotel restaurants.
Mobile Order is now available at the following resort hotel locations:
· Centertown Market and Spyglass Grill at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
· Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
· World Premiere Food Court, the End Zone Food Court and the Intermission Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Resorts
· Everything POP Shopping & Dining at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
· The Mara at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
· Contempo Café at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
These new locations will be in addition to more than 20 other quick service restaurants located in the theme parks and Disney Springs.
Mobile Order allows you to pay for meals on-the-go within the My Disney Experience app, bypassing the queue to order at the restaurant. Using the app, you can select menu items, customize an order and pre-pay for a meal.
Arriving at the restaurant, you tap an “I’m here” button in the app, which will notify the kitchen to prepare the meal. When ready, you'll be alerted through the app to pick up the meal at a designated window. Credit card payments are accepted via Mobile Order along with the Disney Dining Plan.
The ESPN 'College GameDay' Crew will be broadcasting live from the Magic Kingdom on Saturday August 24 2019 as part of the kick off to the 2019 College Football Season.
Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, David Pollack, and Maria Taylor will be broadcasting live from the Main Street U.S.A. train station balcony from 9am to 12pm. You can catch the show on ESPN.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvaXxTdKrDo
The Allman Betts Band's appearance at the 2019 Eat to the Beat concert series has been cancelled due to health reasons.
Originally scheduled to perform September 16 - 17, the band will now be replaced with Smash Mouth.
Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show will be closed for a brief refurbishment in late January 2020.
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com
The dinner show at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort will go dark on January 19 through to January 27, with shows resuming on January 28 2020.
The currently closed Astro Orbiter will be facing a lengthier refurbishment than originally planned.
Astro Orbiter closed with short notice in mid-July, and was originally expected to reopen again today. The ride is now expected to be closed through to at least September 19, with a planned reopening on September 20 2019.
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com
Walt Disney World is launching a new 'Mid-Day Magic' ticket today, allowing access to the parks after 12pm.
The ticket comes in various options between 2 and 4 days in duration, and is priced by date. Example pricing:
· Mid-Day Magic Ticket - Admission after 12pm at the 4 theme parks for $160.88 for a 2 day ticket
· Mid-Day Magic Ticket with Park Hopper Option - Admission after 12pm to the 4 parks with park hopping ability for $230.88 for a 2 day ticket
· Mid-Day Magic Ticket with Park Hopper Plus Option - Admission after 12pm to the 4 parks with hopping ability, and water parks, Oak Trail golf, and Mini-Golf for $250.88 for a 2 day ticket
This may be a limited time offer, with dates currently available through to December 15 2019. You can see more details and get pricing for your trip dates at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/admission/tickets/
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com
