We’ve reached the end of what has been a busy week at the Disney theme parks! Holiday fans have been counting down the days to this week for months, as the seasonal festivities are officially in full swing. In addition to the start of Disney’s many holiday parties and festivals, there have been some exciting updates, and even a new attraction opening this week. Let’s dive right in to this week’s news recap.
The Holidays Are Back
This is a big week if you’re all about the holiday season. Christmas trees, wreaths, and fake snow have all arrived at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort this week. The past few days have kicked off the nearly two-month-long season, which runs through early January on both coasts.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party had its first event of the season on November 9 at Magic Kingdom. In all, the after-hours party will take place over two dozen nights this year, featuring the return of fan-favorite entertainment, ride overlays, character meet and greets, and more. A brand-new event, Disney Jollywood Nights, is set to take place over ten evenings at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This after-hours soiree is all things glitz and glam, including a pop-up cocktail lounge outside The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and a special menu at The Hollywood Brown Derby.
Later this month, the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is back for a limited time. Disney released the menus of the 15 Holiday Kitchens featured throughout the festival, which you can read in my complete Foodie Guide to the holidays at Walt Disney World.
Over in Disneyland, the holidays have arrived with returning festive ride overlays, like “it’s a small world” Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday, which started its 2023 residency in September. Long-running entertainment is back this year as well, including A Christmas Fantasy Parade and Believe In Holiday Magic Fireworks. Over in California Adventure, Disney ¡Viva Navidad! fills Paradise Gardens with colorful decor and festive music. At night, World of Color – Season of Light returns this year as well.
I hope you have an appetite when you visit California Adventure this holiday season. The Disney Festival of the Holidays is back with its Festive Foods Marketplace featuring an eclectic mix of food and beverage items that celebrate the holidays across multiple cultures.
Click here for my FULL 2023 holiday foodie guide at Walt Disney World.
Fantasmic! To Return To Disneyland Spring 2024
Over the summer, the nighttime spectacular Fantasmic! was put on pause when a fire broke out in the middle of a performance, smoldering the iconic dragon figure featured in the show’s climax. Fantasmic! has been dark since then, with Disney previously announcing that the show was slated to be back sometime in spring 2024.
We now know that Fantasmic! will make its return to Disneyland Park on May 24, 2024, per theme park reporter Scott Gustin. When the show returns, it will not be with the aforementioned dragon figure. Rather, Disney shared that the show will feature new special effects. In the meantime, guests visiting Disneyland are treated to live music along the Rivers of America. For the holidays, Queenie and the Jambalaya Jazz Band will perform at 8:10 and 9:05pm each night.
Click here to read more about what’s coming to Disneyland Resort in 2024.
Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse Opens in Disneyland Park
Over two years following the closure of Tarzan’s Treehouse in Disneyland Park, Adventureland has reopened the attraction with a new name and new look. The new walk-through treehouse, dubbed Adventureland Treehouse, is inspired by the original concept of Disneyland’s Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse.
While the house is inspired by the Swiss Family Robinson story and original attraction, it will not be an exact replica. Guests can look forward to admiring the many gadgets, artwork, tools, and unique style of each family member.
Disney Q4 Earnings Call Promises “Turbocharged Growth” In Parks
While it was not filled with any specific announcements, fans gained some insight to the next ten years of the parks and experiences during Disney’s Q4 Earnings Call. CEO Bob Iger noted that one of the four core tennants of the company moving forward would be to “turbocharge growth” at the theme parks, harkening back to the recent news that Disney would invest a whopping $60 in its Parks, Experiences, and Products division over the next ten years.
While the thought of “turbocharged growth” in the parks sounds exciting, it’s also important to note that it will be a slow ramp up to start. Interim CFO Kevin Lansberry noted that the decade-long investments in the theme park would be focused on “back half of that 10-year period.” So, expect some minor updates in the short term, with what will likely be the more exciting stuff closer to 2027-2032 (2032 sounds like a made up year, doesn’t it?).
