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Ears the News: September 27, 2019 Edition


Welcome to the latest edition of Ears the News

Brought to you by our friends at WDWMagic.com


The 6 mile long Disney Skyliner opens at the end of the month in Walt Disney World, and we are now starting to hear confirmation of some of the operational details.

As expected, lightning will be addressed by the Skyliner system closing when lightning is forecast. The system does feature lightning protection, but Disney will obviously be keeping guests out of the sky during bad weather. Bus service will be available during weather closure of the Skyliner.
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com


Disney Skyliner is able to carry 10 guests per cabin, and guests may also travel with strollers, wheelchairs and service animals.

There are five stations in total covering the 3 lines - at Caribbean Beach, Pop Century/Art of Animation, Disney Riviera Resort, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot International Gateway. Caribbean Beach is the main gateway and you will transfer there to each destination.

Although Disney Riviera Resort doesn't open until December, the Riviera station will be available for guests staying at Caribbean Beach on September 29.

Travel time is between 5 and 15 minutes deepening on the specific route.

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com
The Caribbean Beach Resort station features a Joffrey's kiosk. The menu of coffees, pastries and specialty items will include the new “Toffee Flight Latte” found initially only at the station. The latte blends sea salt caramel toffee and dark chocolate, topped with toffee and chocolate crumbles and whipped cream.

The official opening date is September 29, 2019.
Video courtesy of WDWMagic.com
Having trouble viewing the vide? Click here to watch on YouTube.

Video courtesy of WDWMagic.com
Having trouble viewing the vide? Click here to watch on YouTube.

Video courtesy of WDWMagic.com
Having trouble viewing the vide? Click here to watch on YouTube.

Disney will begin selling Disney Skyliner merchandise on September 27, two days before Walt Disney World's new transportation system officially take to the skies on September 29.

Merchandise includes pins, MagicBands, T-Shirts, models, luggage tags, hats and even Christmas ornaments. Click the gallery to see more of the Disney Skyliner merchandise.

Merchandise will be available at these locations:
  • International Gateway at Epcot 
  • Mickey’s of Hollywood at Disney’s Hollywood Studios 
  • Disney’s Pop Century Resort 
  • Disney’s Art of Animation Resort 
  • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort 

Walt Disney Presents at Disney's Hollywood Studios will be showing preview scenes from 'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil' later this month.

“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” is a fantasy adventure that picks up several years after “Maleficent,” in
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com
which audiences learned of the events that hardened the heart of Disney’s most notorious villain and drove her to curse a baby Princess Aurora. The film continues to explore the complex relationship between the horned fairy and the soon to be Queen as they form new alliances and face new adversaries in their struggle to protect the moors and the magical creatures that reside within.

The movie, which opens in theaters on October 18, 2019 began previews today.

More names have been added to the narrator line-up for the 2019 Candlelight Processional.

The latest celebrities include actresses Ming-Na Wen, Isabella Rossellini and Marlee Matlin.
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com


Part of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, the Candlelight Processional presents the traditional story of Christmas with a 50-piece orchestra, a massed choir and a celebrity narrator. The processional is performed three times per night (5:00, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m.) during the holiday season at the America Gardens Theatre.


Here is the line-up so far:
  • Ming-Na Wen - 11/29-12/1 
  • Neil Patrick Harris – 12/2-12/5 
  • Whoopi Goldberg – 12/6-12/7 
  • Isabella Rossellini - 12/8-12/10 
  • Gary Sinise – 12/13-12/15 
  • Pat Sajak – 12/16-12/18 
  • Steven Curtis Chapman – 12/22-12/24 
  • Edward James Olmos – 12/25-12/26 
  • Marlee Matlin - 12/27-12/28 
  • Lisa Ling – 12/29-12/30 

The Scat Cat's Club at Disney's Port Orleans Resort French Quarter will soon be expanding.

Coming this October, the lounge will expand to a larger space and will serve signature beverages alongside bar food inspired by the "Big Easy."

Scat Cat's Club will offer live jazz music five nights a week.

Just off the lobby will be Scat Cat's Club - Cafe - where you'll be able to pickup the resort's famous beignets throughout the day. 

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Plant-based foods are increasing in popularity and Walt Disney World is responding by expanding menu offerings at its restaurants.

Beginning in early October, all major quick service and table service restaurants at Walt Disney
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com
World will feature plant-based dishes, which means menu items without animal meat, dairy, eggs or honey.

From October 3, 2019, Walt Disney World will feature more than 400 plant based food options and new graphics will appear on restaurant menus highlighting plant-based dishes.

Some of the new plant-based dishes include:
  • Steamed Asian Dumplings at Le Cellier at Epcot – Plant-based meat dumplings, served with bok choy, Chinese long beans, red peppers and radish in an Asian broth. 
  • Shiriki Noodle Salad at Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen at Magic Kingdom – Made with noodles, edamame beans, mushrooms, green mango and cucumber, tossed with a sweet chili sauce. 
  • Felucian Garden Spread at Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – Made with plant-based “kefta,” herb hummus, tomato-cucumber relish and pita. 
  • Chili-Spiced Crispy Fried Tofu Bowl at Satu’li Canteen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Crispy tofu, seasoned with chili-spice and topped with a crunchy vegetable slaw, boba balls and your choice of base and sauce. 
  • Plant-Based Cashew Cheescake at California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. 
Disney to live stream the debut of 'Epcot Forever' on October 1.

The new nighttime spectacular will be an all-new, limited-time spectacle of fireworks, music,
Concept art courtesy of Disney
lighting, lasers and choreographed special effects kites. The show takes us on a journey through the past, present and future of Epcot, featuring a stirring collection of songs that paint a colorful picture of the park, with a look towards the future and all the magical possibilities still to come.

The live stream begins at 8:50pm on Tuesday October 1 - WDWMagic will post a link just before showtime. 

In the latest behind-the-scenes look at Epcot Forever, Disney takes us to the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London where Disney music producers and the London Symphony Orchestra recorded the musical score for the upcoming Epcot nighttime spectacular.

IllumiNations Reflections of Earth will have its final performance on Monday, September 30. 

Video courtesy of the Disney Parks Blog
Having trouble viewing the vide? Click here to watch on YouTube.

The 2020 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival will take place March 4 to June 1, 2020 at Walt Disney World.

The outdoor kitchens will be back, along with Disney themed topiaries and the Garden Rocks Concert Series. A new Ratatouille Garden will debut at the France Pavilion with an all new Remy topiary.

The 90 day-long Epcot Flower and Garden Festival enters its 27th year in 2020. 

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com
Disney has announced that a new 'Mickey Shorts Theater' will be coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Set to open in Spring 2020, Disney says that the theater will be joining the park’s theater district, but doesn't offer any further details.

The new theater will be located in the former Sounds Dangerous building, which currently shows the Star Wars: Path of the Jedi movie.

ABC's Good Morning America got a first look inside Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Walt Disney's World Star Wars Galaxy's Edge.

The video includes a look at the Star Destroyer hangar bay reveal, one of the early show scenes in the attraction.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is scheduled to open on Dec. 5, 2019, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida and Jan. 17, 2020, at Disneyland Park in California.
Video courtesy of GMA
Having trouble viewing the vide? Click here to watch on YouTube.

Disney has released details of the special U.S. Military pricing for Walt Disney World tickets and resort stays in 2020.

Special rates at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels are available for stays most nights January 1 through April 4 and April 19 through December 18, 2020 when you book by December 18, 2020. Call 407 939 7825 for military pricing.

The promotional tickets below are available for purchase:

6-Day Military Promotional Tickets
Purchase now through December 13, 2020
With the Park Hopper Option: $301 plus tax
With the Park Hopper Plus Option: $351 plus tax

5-Day Military Promotional Tickets
Purchase now through now through December 14, 2020
With the Park Hopper Option: $283 plus tax
With the Park Hopper Plus Option: $333 plus tax

4-Day Military Promotional Tickets
Purchase now through now through December 15, 2020
With the Park Hopper Option: $265 plus tax
With the Park Hopper Plus Option: $315 plus tax

Receive admission for 4, 5 or 6 days when you visit during the period from January 1, 2020 through December 18, 2020.

You can also purchase the Memory Maker product for a special price of $98 from January 1, 2020 through December 18, 2020.

Offer is for active or retired U.S. military personnel (including active or retired members of the National Guard, Reservists, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS), and the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Spouses of military service members and PHS and NOAA Commissioned Corps members also qualify if they are able to present valid and active U.S. military IDs in the absence of active or retired military personnel or Commissioned Corps members.



Looking to plan your next trip to Walt Disney World? Contact the agents at Kingdom Konsultant Travel to help you plan your dream vacation. Email vacations@kingdomkonsultant.com for a free quote today.

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