(Photo credit Matt Stroshane.)
Disney Parks in Florida and California kick-off the summer travel season with a bi-coastal, all-night celebration, inviting guests to show their “Disney Side” this Memorial Day Weekend, plus new rides and all-in-one MagicBands.
The Rock Your Disney Side: 24-Hours event invites guests of Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California to enjoy select parks for 24 non-stop hours. The Magic Kingdom Park in Florida and Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park in California open May 23 at 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. on May 24. Guests are invited to dress as their favorite Disney hero or villain.
The celebration on both coasts features events showcasing the good versus evil of classic Disney stories including meet-and-greets, special entertainment, and event merchandise, as well as food and beverage offerings. Guests will also discover special additional entertainment and events throughout the 24 hours.
Fans can rock their Disney Side all summer long on both coasts with new attractions such as the Walt Disney World Resort completion of the New Fantasyland—the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history—including the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train family roller coaster’s recent opening. Other new happenings include the New Fantasyland inspired Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade, as well as the rollout of MyMagic+. Disneyland Resort also added new attractions such as Mickey and the Magical Map stage show; and Fantasy Faire, a regal setting for meeting some of Disney’s princesses.
Going back to the MyMagic+—it’s reshaping the way guests experience Disney—allowing guests to customize and personalize everything from at-home planning to in-park experiences. MyMagic+ will evolve over time, however at this moment it has three major parts mydisneyexperience.com; Disney FastPass+; and the MagicBand. The mydisneyexperience.com site and app allows guests to create their own personal guide to their vacation. Families can start planning from home by reserving access to park experiences in advance through FastPass+ making show, ride, fireworks, parade viewing, dining or character greeting reservations. It also allows families to coordinate plans and share photos. If last minute changes need to happen, guests can make those on the go with the My Disney Experience mobile app. The Disney FastPass+ allows guests to choose up to three experiences at one park per day, for each day they have a valid park admission. Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels can make FastPass+ selections up to 60 days in advance. Disney passholders and day guests, not staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels, can make FastPass+ selections 30 days in advance using My Disney Experience. Guests will be allowed to make an additional FastPass+ selection at an in-park kiosk. Once they’ve used the fourth pass, they can select another and so on at the in-park kiosks. For the first time, guests can reserve character greeting, fireworks, and parade viewing areas, shows, and spectaculars, in addition to park rides and attractions. Finally the MagicBand, a colorful and innovative wristband, is an all-in-one device connecting guests to the vacation choices made online with My Disney Experience. The MagicBand serves as park admission; access to FastPass+ experience; Disney PhotoPass; and for Walk Disney World Resort hotel guests it also serves as a room key and optional payment method.
MagicBands are mailed to families before their departure date or guests can pick them up at their Disney Resort hotel. Parents and kids can choose from seven colors for their individual wristbands and personalize them with each family member’s name inside if they wish. Day guests can purchase a MagicBand, and link their park admission, at merchandise locations throughout the parks and Downtown Disney. However, day guests do not have to purchase a MagicBand ($12.95 plus tax) to enjoy the benefits for MyMagic+ or to access FastPass+, which can be accessed through the radio frequency-enabled theme park admission. MagicBands are non-latex, hypoallergenic, flexible, durable, and waterproof. Purchases made with the MagicBand require a 4-digit PIN. Guests work the bands by touching points in place for resort room doors, theme park and water park entrances, FastPass+ entrances and cast mobile devices. Personal information is not stored on the MagicBands and they can be disabled if lost or stolen.
The new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster, which just opened to guests earlier this month, takes New Fantasyland guests in a musical adventure into the mine on vehicles that swing back and forth during the ride, while taking scenes from the the film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”
For more information, visit disneyworld.disney.go.com or disneyland.disney.go.com.
