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DISNEY NEWS ROUNDUP: Major New Attraction Opens, More Holiday Openings, Changes to Very Popular Meet & Greet and more!

The holiday season is always a big deal at Disney World, and this year is even bigger. The massive transformation of Disney World continues this week with the opening of the most ambitious attraction Disney has ever attempted, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Anna & Elsa also got a makeover with changes to their meet & greet over at Epcot. Around property, the holiday season is in full swing now with additional festive options opening, and a major construction milestone was reached at Magic Kingdom. Details on all this and more in this week’s news roundup below.





 

1 – Star Wars: Rise of Resistance Opens December 5

When Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in late August of this year, it opened with only one of its anchor attractions operational, Millennium Falcon-Smuggler’s Run. Rather than wait for the second attraction, Star Wars-Rise of the Resistance to finish being completed, Disney opened Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in two phases. This week Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will open on Thursday, December 5.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will be one of the most ambitious, advanced, and immersive experiences ever undertaken by Walt Disney Imagineering. The innovative new attraction will take guests aboard a full-size transport shuttle before they are captured by a Star Destroyer and wind up in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance. The harrowing adventure will blur the lines between fantasy and reality on a scale never seen before in a Disney attraction.

We’ll be there on Wednesday, December 4, getting a preview and will be at the opening ceremony, which will take place at 7:30 pm. Be sure to follow us on Instagram for coverage of the new attraction on Wednesday, December 4, and December 5. We’ll also have a review of the new attraction shortly after it opens.

Click here to follow us on Instagram.

2 – Anna & Elsa Get a Makeover – Meet & Greet Changes

‘Frozen 2’ has won our hearts and the box office! We loved the film and are so excited that Anna and Elsa are now greeting guests in new ‘Frozen 2’ looks inspired by the film. Learn more about the latest looks at the link below.

Click here for more on Anna and Elsa’s New Look at Disney Parks.

Santa Claus at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

3 – The Holiday Season is in Full Swing at Walt Disney World

With the opening of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays on November 29, the holiday season at Walt Disney World is now in full swing! There are so many amazing things to do while visiting during the holiday season. We’ve got lots of articles to help you plan the best holiday vacation during this most magical time of year. Check out the links below for more information!

Click here for the 2019 guide to the Gingerbread Displays around Disney Parks.

Click here for our guide to meeting Santa Claus at Walt Disney World.

Click here for everything you need to know about the 2019 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!

Click here for our guide to the holiday offerings at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Click here for 5 Reasons to visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom during the holiday season.

Click here for our guide to celebrating the holidays at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Click here for what you need to know about the 2019 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays.





 

4 – Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar Debuted November 29 at Disney Springs

While visiting Disney Springs this holiday season, be sure to stop by the new Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar! The bar has been given a complete makeover with over the top décor and a limited-time menu. Check out the link below for more details.

Click here for more on Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar.

5 – Tron Lightcycle Run Attraction Milestone Reached at Magic Kingdom

Tron Lightcycle Run is a HUGE hit at Disneyland Shanghi. When we heard it was coming to Magic Kingdom at Disney World, we couldn’t have been more excited! Construction has been underway for months, and in November the crew hit a major milestone. Disney cast member Jennifer Fickley-Baker shares more below:

Earlier this month, Walt Disney Imagineering and Magic Kingdom Park cast members celebrated a milestone in the construction of the TRON Lightcycle / Run attraction when the final piece of the attraction’s ride track was lowered into place.

TRON Lightcycle / Run is a coaster-style attraction that will allow riders to board a train of two-wheeled Lightcycles for a thrilling race through the digital frontier. A similar attraction exists at Shanghai Disneyland, where it opened in 2016 and became an instant guest-favorite.

 

Our friends at Walt Disney Imagineering just shared this video with us, which offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how the Tomorrowland attraction is coming together.

TRON Lightcycle / Run is set to open at Magic Kingdom Park in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary in 2021.

Click here to learn more about Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.

6 – First Look: New Disney Cast Costumes Revealed for Disney’s Riviera Resort

It’s the little details that are crucial in creating the magic that sets Disney World above every other imitator out there. One of those details that goes underappreciated way too often is the fantastic costuming. With the opening of the new Riviera Resort just around the corner, Disney has now revealed cast member costumes. Disney cast member Yolanda Cade shares more below:

With the grand opening of Disney’s Riviera Resort less than a month away, everyone is sharing in the excitement of the resort that celebrates European Riviera design and style. Today, I’m thrilled to share with you a first look at some of the fashionable new Disney cast costumes created to complement the resort’s Riviera aesthetic.

Credit: Disney

Walt Disney Imagineering partnered with Costuming to create a fashion-forward collection that captures the essence of Disney’s Riviera Resort. The new costumes were revealed at a special cast member runway-style fashion show at the resort.

The costume designs were inspired by the landscapes, colors and art of the European Riviera. The designers also looked to Hollywood stars, artists and creators, including Walt Disney, who visited the Riviera and reflected their travels in their style.

Similar to the design of the resort, apparel pieces have a modern Riviera appeal, with classic and current nods. Ensembles are stylish and sophisticated and contemporary to today’s Mediterranean Riviera.

Credit: Disney

Some of the design features that are key to the collection are a color palette of Mediterranean blues and whites with bright pops of color, clean silhouettes, modern tailoring and attention to layers of details including crisp piping, art inspired accents and themed accessories.

Beautiful fabrics and rich details are tailored for cast comfort and take modern-day function into account. There are also customizable costume options, including a “mix and match” collection of pieces for some resort areas that can be restyled for individual flexibility and differentiation.

It won’t be long before you’ll be seeing our cast in these costumes at Disney’s Riviera Resort. Let us know which looks you think are magnifique!

Disney’s Riviera Resort, the newest upcoming Walt Disney World resort and Disney Vacation Club property, is under construction now and projected to open December 16, 2019. For more information or to make hotel reservations, visit the Walt Disney World Resort website or call 407-939-7762 or your travel agent.

 





 

What’s New at Walt Disney World!

It’s a very exciting time growth and development at Walt Disney World. In fact, there are so many new things opening, coming and happening, it’s hard to keep track. Here’s a cheat sheet to help keep things straight and make sure you haven’t missed anything.

2019 Holiday Season at Walt Disney World – Now Through January 5, 2020

Click here for amazing can’t miss 2019 holiday offerings at Walt Disney World.

Click here for everything you need to know about the 2019 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!

Click here for our guide to the holiday offerings at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Click here for 5 Reasons to visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom during the holiday season.

Click here for our guide to celebrating the holidays at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Click here for what you need to know about the 2019 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays.

Click here for the 2019 guide to the Gingerbread Displays around Disney Parks.

Click here for our guide to meeting Santa Claus at Walt Disney World.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – Now Open

Click here for everything you need to know at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Disney Skyliner – Now Open

Click here for what you need to know about the Disney Skyliner

Epcot Forever – Now Open

Click here to learn more about Epcot Forever.

The Epcot Experience – Now Open

Click here to learn more about the Epcot Experience.

Reimagined Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort – Now Open

Click here for our review and walkthrough with photos and video.

NBA Experience at Disney Springs – Now Open

Click here for our review and what you need to know about this fun new experience.

Coming Soon to Disney World!

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – Opening December 5, 2019

Click here for what we know so far about Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Disney’s Riviera Resort – Opening December 16, 2019

Click here for a preview of Disney’s Riviera Resort

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – Opening Spring 2020

Click here for what we know so far about Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Epcot Reimagined – Now Through Fall 2021 for Walt Disney World’s 50thAnniversary

Click here for a complete rundown of what’s coming to the new Epcot including closures.

New Cirque du Soleil Show – April 17, 2020

Click here for everything we know about this new show!

Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration – 2021

Click here for our rundown of everything that’s coming for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary!

Star Wars Hotel – unknown

Click here for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser-What We Know So Far About the Upcoming Star Wars Themed Hotel Coming to Disney World

Disney Cruise Line’s Lighthouse Point – Disney’s 2nd Island in the Caribbean – unknown

Click here for everything we know about Lighthouse Point!

For a no obligation, FREE Quote on a Disney vacation package, please contact our travel partner Magical Vacation Planner at 407-442-0227 (407-442-0215 for Spanish). You can also request a FREE quote online by Clicking HERE.



 

Chad & Cindy Nykamp

After years of multiple Walt Disney World vacations, Cindy and Chad's dream of living in Orlando came true in 2010. After friends and family made them their go-to-people for Walt Disney World advice, Cindy and Chad launched DisneyLists.com in August 2015 to share their knowledge and love of Disney. Chad and Cindy have been Disney World Annual Passholders for years, DVC members, together have raced more than 70 runDisney races, and particularly love cruising on the Disney Cruise Line. Chad and Cindy also regularly represent DisneyLists.com at Walt Disney World media events. While attending these events, they get an insiders view of all the new things that have come to Walt Disney World. These experiences have helped them gain knowledge and expertise they happily pass on to their followers. They still can't believe how lucky they are to have such an amazing opportunity and will continue to share Disney with anyone who will listen!
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