A Special Meet and Greet with Belle at Walt Disney World and More Parks News You Need – August 2016

Welcome to the News You Need! In an effort to keep you all up to date on the news that makes you pro vacation planners, I’m teaming up with DVC Resale Market each month to bring you a quick rundown of parks and company news that will help you make informed decisions about buying, selling or just enjoying those points. Here are some great resources, tips, and pieces of information we think will make your Disney experience a great one!

Disneyland Entertainment ChangesThe Paint the Night parade, Disneyland Forever Fireworks, and World of Color: Celebrate show will all end at Disneyland on September 5, 2016. The futures of these shows are still undetermined, but it’s rumored that they will be coming back in various ways throughout the next couple of years.

A Special meet and greet with Belle for Memory Maker Guests! From August 7 through August 31, 2016, guests who have purchased Memory Maker or who have Annual Passes with Memory maker entitlements will have access to a special meet and greet with Belle at the Heritage House in Liberty Square. From 11:00am to 5:30pm, Belle will meet in her gold ballgown at Heritage House. Fastness is not available for this experience, and only one person in the party is required to have Memory Maker.

Wallet-Friendly Options Now Open in Disney SpringsDisney Springs has undergone an incredible transformation over the last couple of years and has added a ton of fantastic new restaurants and shops. One of our favorites for a family meal that won’t kill your budget? Blaze Pizza. For around $10 a person you get a truly tasty made-to-order personal pizza and drink. Blaze has gluten-free pizzas too, and a whole bar of fresh toppings to choose from. Extra perks? Great salads that you can grab and go. For a really refreshing meal at around $6, try the Basil, Tomato, and Ovalini salad. Check out the Blaze menu here and download the app for free food!

Muppets in the Magic Kingdom… Beginning October, 2016, a new show in Liberty Square featuring the Muppets will debut in the Magic Kingdom. “The Muppets Present… Great Moments in American History” will play throughout the day in front of the Hall of Presidents to “present historical tales in hysterical fashion”. Check your Times Guide and My Disney Experience for showtimes.

…and Muppets at the Studios It looks like Muppet Vision 3D is safe for a while, as Pizza Planet will reopen in the Muppets Courtyard this Fall as PizzeRizzo, a Muppets themed pizzeria. The restaurant will featured “extensive” indoor and outdoor seating and has been fully re-themed for Muppet lovers one and all.

Refillable Mug Changes New refillable mugs have been popping up at the resorts and the newest models DO NOT have handles. Guest reviews are mixed, but if your family likes to fill up mugs several times a day, be prepared to find a way to carry several without having handles to do it. The older designs are still available for the most part, and it’s unknown if this will be a permanent change.

That’s your News You Need for August. As always, visit the DVC Resale Market Facebook page for great prices on DVC resale and awesome information. And for up-to-the-minute parks news, visit DVC Central on Facebook as well!

Morgan Crutchfield is the owner of DVC Central, a valued DVC Resale Market partner that focuses on getting you the information you need to Maximize your Disney Experience. Morgan hopes the News You Need helps DVC Resale Market clients and fans plan fantastic vacations!