DISNEY NEWS ROUNDUP: Dates of Epcot Festival Announced; Water Park Reopening & Retheming; Special Thanksgiving Treats Revealed & More

Chad & Cindy NykampOctober 29, 2022Last Updated: October 29, 2022

Festival of the Arts 2023 dates announced along with a reopening date and some retheming details for Blizzard Beach. Disney is introducing a ton of special treats and feasts for the Thanksgiving season and more in this week’s news roundup.

1 – EPCOT Festival of the Arts Dates Announced

Dates for the 2023 edition of the EPCOT Festival of the Arts have been released. This short, yet popular festival celebrates the arts and is a fantastic time to visit EPCOT because of the gorgeous weather we usually see in January and February. Learn more about this festival at the link below.

Click here to learn more about the 2023 EPCOT Festival of the Arts.

2 – Blizzard Beach Reopening Date Announced – Frozen Theming Revealed

Blizzard Beach has been closed most of 2022 and has been undergoing extensive refurbishment. Some slides have been replaced and new Frozen theming is in some sections of the water park. Disney has announced the reopening date will be November 13, 2022. Typhoon Lagoon will close for refurbishment on November 13, continuing the trend of only one water parking being open. Since 2020, only one water park has been operating at time. Next summer, we hope to see both water parks open again at the same time! Learn more about the new offerings at Blizzard Beach below.

Click here for more on the reopening of Blizzard Beach on November 13.

3 – Thanksgiving Eats and Treats Coming to Walt Disney World

Thanksgiving is less than a month away, and if you’re visiting Walt Disney World, you want to take advantage of limited-time food and beverage items offered in November and Thanksgiving weekend. We’ve got the rundown on all that will be offered. Learn more at the link below.

Click here for all you need to know about Thanksgiving Eats and Treats at Walt Disney World.

4 – U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Perform Incredible Flyovers at Magic Kingdom Park

Recently the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds performed flyovers at Magic Kingdom Park! Disney Cast Member Cappy Surette has all the details below.

We were honored to kick off National Veterans and Military Families Month a few days early in a very big way by hosting a flyover of Magic Kingdom Park by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds air demonstration team today. It was an inspiring moment to witness as the Air Force’s premier aviators soared 500 feet over Cinderella Castle and down over Main Street, U.S.A. thrilling guests and cast members alike.

The Thunderbirds performed precision aerial maneuvers and they showed us their world-famous delta break maneuver where they passed over Cinderella Castle accelerating rapidly and in different directions giving us a fantastic display of acrobatic flying precision.

The flyover is particularly special this time around because the pilot flying the #4 jet, U.S. Air Force Maj. Zane Taylor, is the son of a retired Disney executive and grew up around Walt Disney World. He often dreamed of flying over Magic Kingdom in his F-16 Fighting Falcon. He was excited to make that dream a reality during his second to last away show of the season before he moves on to his next assignment in the Air Force.

“I spent my childhood watching the amazing live shows at Walt Disney World with my family,” said Taylor. “Who knew that exposure would serve me so well when I was tasked with building the new Thunderbird show in 2020.”

The Thunderbirds are in town through the weekend for the Orlando Air and Space Show, but made time fly over Magic Kingdom Park in celebration of Walt Disney World’s 50^th anniversary and the U.S. Air Force’s 75^th.

Disney’s support for the Armed Forces is part of our company’s heritage and we would like to give a big Disney SALUTE to all who proudly serve the nation in uniform and their families!

Oct. 27, 2022 – The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds with Mickey Mouse, Melissa Valiquette, Vice President, Magic Kingdom Park and Walt Disney World Ambassador, Raevon Redding in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Thunderbirds flew over the park earlier in the day as a prelude to the beginning of National Veterans and Military Families Month in November. Credit: Disney

5 – 3 Ways to Save on Your Next Walt Disney World Stay

Looking to save some money on your next Walt Disney World vacation? Disney Cast Member Lesley Harris has a rundown of the current offers below.

I still remember eagerly anticipating trips to Walt Disney World Resort as a child and not being able to sleep the night before – the excitement of visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth was too much! Hugging Minnie Mouse for the first time, experiencing Peter Pan’s Flight, eating a Mickey Mouse waffle … these are all core memories in my mind. Today, I’m still creating core memories when I see that same excitement in the eyes of my five-year-old son when he happily shouts “monorail!” on the way to Magic Kingdom Park. Creating lasting memories and feeling joy is what vacationing is all about!

And in the months ahead, there’s so much to look forward to across Walt Disney World Resort. Whether it’s experiencing the brand-new special holiday remix on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT or enjoying the return of the beloved nighttime spectacular Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – it’s a great time to start making plans to create new memories and joyous moments.

You won’t want to miss the latest travel deals and special offers on Disney Resort hotel stays available for select dates! More time in the parks, complimentary on-site transportation, immersion in the magic … these are just a few of the special benefits and perks that await you at one of more than 25 themed resorts in the Disney Resorts Collection. And now, it’s that time of year when you can find even more ways to save when planning your next visit.

Winter and Spring Travel Packages – While delighting in winter festivities is extra magical, springtime is also another great time to visit Walt Disney World Resort with sunny skies, delicious fresh cuisine, and vibrant blooming flowers around every corner. On select dates this winter and spring, guests can save up to $400 on a 4-night, 4-day Walt Disney World Travel Company room and ticket package at select Disney Resort hotels. To learn more, visit DisneyWorld.com/Save.

Florida Resident Discounts – Looking for your next staycation destination? Florida residents, look no further than a Disney Resort hotel with something for the whole family – whether you want to relax poolside, take part in recreation activities or enjoy a memorable Disney dining experience. Florida residents can enjoy special savings of up to 20% for stays at select Disney Resort hotels on select dates in early 2023. For additional details, visit DisneyWorld.com/FLSave.

Walt Disney World Annual Passholder Travel Deals – Annual Passholders can also take advantage of special deals when they stay in the magic! Passholders can save up to 25% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels on select travel dates over the coming months. Passholders can visit DisneyWorld.com/Offers to find out more.

We also have special Disney Resort hotel offers for Disney+ subscribers and Disney Visa Cardholders DisneyWorld.com/DisneyPlus. As always, guests can visit DisneyWorld.com/Offers for the latest deals and discounts.

One of the best – and most popular – benefits of staying at a Disney Resort hotel is more time to play in the parks. When you stay at a Disney Resort hotel, you can take advantage of a 30-minute early entry into the theme parks every day. When you stay at a Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort, you can also enjoy extended evening hours, in select parks, on select nights (now through all of 2023)!*

*For early theme park entry, you’ll need valid admission, a park reservation and Resort ID. For extended evening hours, you’ll need valid admission, a park reservation and Resort ID (or a ticket or annual pass with the Park Hopper option, provided you entered the park where you made your reservation earlier in the day).

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.